The Purists
Closing: December 21, 2024The Purists - West End History , Info & More
Kiln Theatre
269 Kilburn High Road London NW6 7JR London
Subcultures and generations collide in this New York comedy.
On their stoop in Queens, New York, Lamont, a legendary emcee
and Mr Bugz, a hall-of-fame DJ, have been winding up Gerry, a
musical lover, for as long as they can remember.
But when two young women, Nancy and Val, put their rap battling
skills to the test, they are forced to confront their convictions on
race, sexuality and music. Struggling with secrets and their fears for
the future, they realise they have more in common than they
thought.
As this critically acclaimed show makes its European premiere, it
asks - how far would you go to speak your truth?
__Assisted Performances:__
Audio Described: 19 December, 7.30pm
The Purists - - West End Cast
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR The Purists
The Purists at the Kiln Theatre review: fascinating and frustrating discussion of cultural ownership
6 / 10
By far the strongest moment in the play is the electric rap battle between her and Nancy, which sums up the play’s tangled ideas. It’s a contest meticulously scripted by a white male writer to sound improvised, between a white and a Hispanic woman, who are otherwise marginalised by older men, two black and one white, who all think they should own the narrative. The Purists is ungoverned and sprawling and never resolves its thorny questions about identity and authenticity, but it generates much enjoyment as well as much head-scratching along the way.
The Purists review – a neighbourly chat about race, sexuality and the politics of hip-hop
7 / 10
The plotline around Mr Bugz’s sexuality chugs on but is never taken very far. Ultimately, this seems like a play that wants to take on many things without going far enough with any one of them. It tries not to get too angry, despite its explosive subject matter. The actors carry it, though, oozing charm alongside quiet anguish. It is no surprise that McCabe is working on adapting the script for a screenplay. There is a moreish Netflix series energy to it all. It is clear there is talent to the writing, too – if only there was more follow-through.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 25, 2024
See what the critics are saying about The Purists by Dan McCabeat Kiln Theatre. Amit Sharma directs Jasper Britton, Tiffany Gray, Emma Kingston, Richard Pepple and Sule Rimi. Read the reviews.
by Alexander Cohen - November 26, 2024
“This ain’t NWA, it’s NW6.” The preshow warm up rapper unironically proclaims down a booming mic. What a line.
The Purists History
Other Productions of The Purists
| 2019 | Boston |
World Premiere Boston |
| West End |
West End |
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