Telenovela melodrama meets fiery flamenco in this spectacular family-friendly masterpiece
This production manages to successfully blend the technical brilliance of flamenco with the physical comedy of pantomime and the Spanish passion of telenovela drama. Flamenc Oh!! tells the tale of a family whose story feels as much in keeping thematically with any of Federico García Lorca’s masterpieces.
We have the patriarch, (played a by David Bastidas), a stoic leader of the clan and singer in the production; the matriarch (played by Raquel Ortega), who is trying to keep her family together. They are followed by their son (played by Raùl Ortega) and daughter (played by Anabel Moreno) who must battle in out through dance to become the new clan leader. Lastly they are accompanied by their new guitarist whose arrival is meant to breathe new life into the clan (played by Luis Gallo).
In many ways, this is a traditional flamenco piece. All three elements are present: the cante– provided by Bastidas, adding a sense of severity and mystical foreboding with the use of Arabic inflected singing. The toque- music is provided by Gallo on guitar and Ortega on the cajón – a box shaped percussion instrument. Lastly of course, the baile- dance is provided by Raùl Ortega, Anabel Moreno and Raquel Ortega.
The modern way they present the family drama with slapstick and magical elements provide a genuinely excellent way to transcend language barrier and convey story through fantastic characterisation. Each family member is given an arc- the father, serious and stoic, learns he wants to dance too and accepts both his children as rightful successors. The mother brings romance to her daughter with the guitarist. The guitarist wants to bring fresh new music into the flamenco realm, and the brother and sister realise they work better as a team than fighting each other for the family crown. Despite the short runtime, each arc is satisfactorily explored clearly and conclusively.
Gallo’s guitar playing is nothing short of sensational. His technical brilliance on the almost impenetrable Spanish guitar is magnificent to witness; weaving from lightning-fast fretwork, skilful strumming and evocative use of the instrument as a prop for example, to comically demonstrate a shotgun at one point. In addition to the flamenco music, he also shows himself a master of rock music as he grapples hits such as Prince’s Purple Rain.
The flamenco itself is a tour de force. This is important as they have a huge stage to fill for just five people, but the initial steps of the marjade lead seamlessly into the emotion of the percussive footwork known as zapateado, and eventually the mellifluous arm and hand movements known as braceo/floreo. Use of costume including the shawl (mantón) and the traditional dress (bata de cola) all add to the finesse of traditional elements required of the dance. It is a wonderful experience that lingers long after the show finishes. The cast are all exceptionally talented in their respective crafts.
There is truly a place in Flamenco circles for this type of light-hearted presentation versus the more zealous purists who gatekeep for nostalgia. There is no less traditional skill on display here than say the Corral de la Morería in Madrid or the Peña Flamenca Torres Macarena in Seville. Despite a few technical glitches with sound and narration, and some audience participation dragging on awkwardly, the combination of engrossing storytelling, fabulous physical comedy and dance, and evocative music present the perfect introduction into a Spanish cultural heritage that is equal parts fun, funny and fantastico.
Flamenc Oh!! is showing at the Peacock Theatre, London until 10th October 2026.