Muhammad Ali and Me St Helens, Derbyshire Hill Youth Centre (YAZ)

Tuesday, 25 October 2016 from 19:00 to 20:30

MOJISOLA ADEBAYO AND THE ALI COLLECTIVE

Muhammad Ali & Me

“Muhammad Ali and me have one thing in common: we were Black in the seventies.”

This new production from the makers of Time Out Critics’ Choice Moj of the Antarctic tells the story of a young Black girl growing up in care and her fantastical friendship with the legendary Muhammad Ali.

Tuesday, October 25th, 7pm

Age: 11 +

RUNNING TIME: 120 MINUTES INCLUDING INTERVAL

‘Muhammad Ali and me have one thing in common: we were Black in the seventies.’

Muhammad Ali and Me is the critically acclaimed coming-of-age story of a young black girl growing up in foster care and her fantastical friendship with the legendary, Muhammad Ali.

Ali was always full of surprises. He danced in the boxing ring, rapped at press conferences, recited poetry in TV interviews, preached Islam from the back of a Cadillac and invoked revolution in a generation.

In the spirit of Ali, Muhammad Ali and Me is a rich, ‘beautifully rendered’ (What’s On Stage) production full of wonder told through poetry, dance, boxing, African acapella singing, audience interaction and integrated British Sign Language. Ali himself makes a guest appearance through verbatim text and original fight footage, with cartoon animation, pyrotechnics, magic tricks and a superb eclectic 1970’s sound track.

‘As a piece of stagecraft, an entertaining kaleidoscope of social and political history, only one description will do: this is a play that ‘floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.’ WHAT’S ON STAGE ★★★★

This show has a knockout stage design courtesy of Rajha Shakiry. 
Adebayo, who plays both Ali and the girl, is quite a performer: she can also charm your socks off when she wants to. Charlie Folorunsho makes an impressive foil…The ambition is huge. You couldn’t ask for more. TIMEOUT

A must-see for Ali fans.’ AFRIDIZIAK ★★★★

Muhammad Ali and Me is designed for both deaf and hearing audiences. Jacqui Bedford’s character performs in British Sign Language