Robyn Orlin: We wear our wheels with pride – Southbank Centre, London

Choreographer: Robyn Orlin

Part of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels Festival across London, South African Robyn Orlin’s We wear our wheels with pride and slap your streets with color… We said ‘bonjour’ to satan in 1820 is a homage to the Zulu rickshaw drivers of the 1970s.

It opens with traditional song sung by Anelisa Sturman. Immediately you are struck by the beauty, the range and the soulfulness of her voice. She sings throughout the show. Her voice makes this production special with a phenomenal depth of tone and sound. This is the sort of voice that raises hairs on your neck and tingles down the spine. The superb modern yet traditional soundtrack is played by musician Yogin Sullaphen on electronic keyboards and drums.

The production from the beginning projects colour and joy, literally as well as figuratively, as there is a background screen on which the vibrant colours of West African fabrics are projected onto the faces and dances of the performers. The dancers deliver joy by encouraging the audience to participate, first by repeating rhythmic chants with the cast, then by getting the audience members to sway back and forth, and then by putting their hands in the air until they are encouraged to stand.

Each dancer has a chance to shine individually as each takes to the stage when they discard their mask while mimicking animal noises that the audience is encouraged to repeat and clap along to. The standout is Teboho Letele whose cheeky smile and acrobatics add to the fun of the event, especially in the ensemble numbers.

There is a poignant quote at the end telling the audience that today the rickshaw drivers are now all Uber drivers; different times but the same old struggle. Apart from the joy this production gives, it is that haunting, evocative voice of Stuurman that will stay with you. Movingly beautiful.

Runs until 22 March 2025