Tambo and Bones, UK Tour Review (2025)
Written by Hollie for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Caution: This satirical show contains sounds of gunfire, strong language, repeated use of a racial slur, references to ethnic violence and war crimes, and discusses themes some may find upsetting relating to race.
Hailed as one of the most talked about cultural events of 2023 when it premiered at Stratford East and spanning 500 years of history, I was intrigued to see how the themes of freedom, money, stereotypes and racism could be explored together on the stage to create a powerful production.
I’m not quite sure how director Matthew Xia managed it, but he did! Multi-award winning director of ATC (Actors Touring Company) Matthew, provides this timely and thought-provoking production which leaves you with more questions than answers.
This Made in Northampton co-production in association with Belgrade Theatre, Leeds Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman begins its U.K. tour at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate this week.
Hip hop music plays throughout the lobby and welcomes you into the bar pre-show and gives you a flavour of the different periods of time that will be portrayed during the show. With Kendrick Lamar’s recent Super Bowl performance freshly in our minds, I knew that this show would make us think and get us to wake up just like Lamar’s performance did in February.
As Act One opens to the rolling hills of the American countryside, this play centres around two main characters, Tambo and Bones, who narrate the story across three acts. Encouraging audience participation from the outset, this opening scene provides plenty of comedy and sets the scene for the rest of the show.
This act explores the relationship between Tambo and Bones, with their truth and lies as well as their outlook on their position whilst they depict a Minstrel show. Created for other people’s entertainment, minstrel shows were very true of the era. At times, this act was a bit of a slow start for me and some of the jokes were prolonged and drawn out.
The first act was not at all what I was expecting of the show and the marketing of the show didn’t reflect that either. As Act One draws to a close, Tambo and Bones ask “Once we have what they have will we be real?”
Act Two begins with Tambo and Bones’ World tour, their hip hop show with the actors portraying their characters in the present day modern era. Both Clifford Samuel who plays Tambo, and Daniel Ward who plays Bones, play their parts brilliantly. They were easily able to depict their characters through the different periods of time and as a duo they hilariously bounced off each other and caused the audience to laugh throughout.
Both actors tell the story really well. The story is told through narration and the use of rap and it really makes you think. I feel that you would benefit from watching the show again in order to pick up on the metaphors, messages and meanings used. Tambo and Bones talk about how singing a song about racism is not enough to change the world. They talk about poverty and being poor, wishing and praying for quarters before earning lots of money and working hard for as many dollars as they can. They progress from dollars to dreams and their perspective of the world changes. The use of videos and projections in the show also reminds the audience that all these issues are still prominent in today’s society.
Will Tambo and Bones realise where they come from and by the end will they realise where they are going? If you are looking for something completely different that really gets you thinking then I would recommend this production to you!
The production crew have made the show fully accessible by providing audience members with a sensory room as well as in-person support from qualified therapists throughout and after the show.
Tambo and Bones continues its run at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate this week before proceeding to Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre at the end of March, Manchester’s Home Theatre, Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, it returns to Stratford East in April before concluding at Leeds Playhouse in May.
Other productions taking place at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate shortly are: Treasure Island, Pig Heart Boy and Only Fools and Horses.
★ ★ ★ ★
