Political drama – Councillors praise young actors in ZIP: A Streetdance Musical

Published: 2 September, 2010
by JOSH LOEB

TWO councillors and a detective superintendent took to the stage at Kentish Town’s Lion and Unicorn Theatre on Tuesday night – after the curtain call – to congratulate young actors performing in ZIP: A Streetdance Musical. 

Labour Councillors Tulip Siddiq and Abdul Hai were in the audience for the performance, along with Detective Superintendent Neil Wilson. They said they were behind a bid to take the show, which examines the impact of gun and knife crime on communities in London, on a nationwide tour.

Giant Olive, the resident theatre company at the Lion and Unicorn, was behind the play, which was devised by youngsters in regular workshops that took place above O’Reillys in Kentish Town.

The production  and received funding from Camden Council and the Big Lottery Fund, and Giant Olive is now bidding for more funding in order to take the show on a nationwide tour.

Councillor Tulip Siddiq, Camden Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, said: “The acting was brilliant and the play raised a number of both political and personal issues that affect young Camdeners.”