Review: Pied Piper – A Hip Hop Family Musical

In her end-of-year round-up of all things wonderful in theatre in 2023, The Observer's esteemed Susannah Clapp singled out Pied Piper – A Hip Hop Family Musical for praise. Quite right, too. This is ambitious and full-bodied stuff, evidently rooted in its originating community and company. Starting life at Battersea Arts Centre, the musical's creator Conrad Murray has conceived a highly original version of the famous story which is precision-engineered for the company's Beatbox Academy (p.20). The idea – as I understand it – is that all sound and music generated is done by the onstage company.

In this version, then, after a bracing introduction of the (original) company, we're off. This contemporary Hamelin is emphatically focused on class and division. It's the eve of the mayoral election and the local children are unhappy. Not only is there the (anticipated) rat infestation issue to contend with, the mayor, who's also the local pie factory owner, has banned all music. Could it be that the town's new and hugely mysterious rat catcher (wink wink), with his dulcet tones, could help the townsfolk rediscover and reclaim the pipes of their own?

This is a short, snappy and punchy treat which has clearly gone down a storm in its originating production. It's funny, clever and empowering.

Based on what's on the page in this edition, there's much to whet the appetite and, in theory, a talented ensemble has all the resources needed to bring this piece to life.

However, and this is a big caveat, it's very challenging to imagine this piece in its living and breathing theatrical form without any further resources to support it. The accompanying essays really sell the creators' enthusiasm for the piece and rightly so, but it is hard to try and ‘hear’ what gems might be unearthed in a full production.

Ambitious classroom teachers, probably with some degree of musicianship or musicality, might well be inspired by what's here and explore extracts of sections with their classes. I would be thrilled to see this as a fully realised production and eagerly await a new production. For now, this is a handy blueprint and useful memento but might prove incomplete for anyone thinking about staging this vibrant new work.