The Purists

Closing: December 21, 2024

The Purists - West End History , Info & More

Cast

Creative

History

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

Jasper Britton

Emma Kingston

Tiffany Gray

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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.

The Purists History

Other Productions of The Purists

2019	Boston	World Premiere Boston
	West End	West End

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