A visually striking and musically rich portrait of Miles Davis
Drawing inspiration from the jazz icon Miles Davis’s music and turbulent life, Miles, an Edinburgh sell-out show in 2025, spotlights multiple dimensions of his story: his relationship with his father, his obsession with boxing, his intense love affairs, and his struggles with drugs. It tells the life story of this musical giant through two modes of communication: words, the language of theatre, and music, the language inherent to Miles Davis. Through the narration of his life, audiences are invited into his dazzling musical world; through the music from different stages of his career, we gain insight into his inner life.
More than a biographical narrative, the story of Miles engages with issues of race, identity, and what it means to be multicultural through art. These themes resonate not only in the United States, where Miles’s story is rooted, but globally, in an era of globalisation—particularly at a time when we are witnessing a worldwide decline in cultural and historical awareness.
The production offers striking visuals. It opens with imagery that is both cinematic and metaphorical: a human body slowly rising from a piano beneath neon blue and turquoise light (echoing Miles’s iconic albums Kind of Blue and Blue in Green), before transforming into the world-famous icon under a spotlight that casts his shadow across the back wall. A star is born. Moments of similarly compelling visual language recur throughout the play through the use of shadows, projections, and lighting design, creating a sense of high production value within a limited space and with minimal changes of props.
One of the highlights of the show is Benjamin Akintuyosi’s performance as Miles Davis. A recent graduate in 2025, this appears to be his professional debut; yet on stage he proves himself a remarkably seasoned artist with undeniable star quality. His embodiment of different stages of Miles’s life, as well as other figures surrounding him, is astonishing. The moment his voice and physicality shifts, it feels as though his entire being is drawn into the character.
Yet, for a show that draws inspiration from the pulsing rhythm and flow in Miles Davis’ music, the storytelling at times lacks momentum. It jumps across time and space, touching on many facets of Miles’s life and the people he encountered, which may be disorienting for audiences trying to follow the narrative and simply immerse themselves in the story carried by the music. The words and the music, presented separately in fragments, sometimes also feel like two parallel storytellings rather than one.
For jazz lovers and those who grew up under Miles Davis’s influence, Miles is a production not to be missed. However, it may also create barriers for audience members who come simply for an engaging evening of music and a compelling story, without prior familiarity with his life and cultural significance.
The show runs until 7 March at Southwark Playhouse Borough. Tickets here.