Photo Flash: Sneak Peek - THE LEGEND OF MIKE SMITH Brings Hip Hop to Belgrade Theatre

Written and performed by award winning jazz musician and MC Soweto Kinch, and directed by Hip Hop Theatre innovator Jonzi D, The Legend of Mike Smith visits the Belgrade Theatre as part of a UK tour this month. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

Heralded as a ground-breaking work of theatre, it integrates Hip Hop, Jazz, Dance and lyricism to tell the compelling story of Mike Smith, a young artist on a quest to find a mythicAl Golden microphone.

Exploring the 7 deadly sins, consumerism, spirituality and commercial pressures on the modern artist, The Legend of Mike Smith takes an original approach to melding artforms and exploring Hip Hop culture.

Now in its second incarnation as a staged work, The Legend of Mike Smith will also feature new choreography from guest director Ivan Blackstock. The production originally premiered at the Birmingham REP theatre following the release of Kinch's critically acclaimed 2013 album of the same name.

The multi-award winning alto-saxophonist Soweto Kinch is one of Britain's most exciting young Jazz and Hip Hop artists. He has received two MOBO awards in the Best Jazz Act category, two Urban Music Awards and a Mercury Music Prize nomination.

Soweto's theatre experience includes Sampad's In the Further Soil performed at MAC Birmingham and a previous collaboration with Jonzi D, Markus the Sadist which played at the artsdepot and Bloomsbury Theatre in 2010.

Dancer, spoken word artist and director Jonzi D has been an advocate of British Hip Hop theatre and Dance for over 20 years. In 2004, he founded Breakin' Convention, an international festival of Hip Hop dance theatre, raising the international profile of the artform and providing a platform for Hip Hop artists from across the world.

Ivan Blackstock is a Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Birdgang Dance Company. He has worked extensively as a choreographer and director with acclaimed artists such as Rita Ora, Dizzee Rascal and will.i.am as well as appearing on So You Think You Can Dance UK, Dancing with the Stars USA and BBC Young Dancer of the Year as a judge.

The Legend of Mike Smith promises to be an absorbing combination of music, animation and dance with music from Kinch's latest album of over 40 tracks being played live by Soweto and his band every night.

The Legend of Mike Smith runs in the B2 auditorium at the Belgrade Theatre from Weds 26 to Sat 29 April. Tickets are available now priced from £12.50 by calling the Belgrade Box Office team on 024 7655 3055 or online at www.belgrade.co.uk.