The play that laughs, provokes and dares to challenge – Tambo & Bones

Theatre director, Journalist, Composer and D.J Matthew Xia is no stranger to Manchester. He has staged productions at The Royal Exchange Theatre, HOME and the Hope Mill Theatre.

And he has a variety of productions on his CV, from a new production of Frankenstein, a reboot of The Wiz and the brilliant One Night in Miami.

His next production, Tambo & Bones began life at the Theatre Royal Stratford and it is headed to HOME next month. It asks important questions, yet it manages to be funny as well as provocative and has been described by Time Out as a “gloriously irreverent joyride through Black American archetypes.”

We caught up with Matthew to find out more.

Tambo & Bones feels like a production we rarely see. Is that one of the reasons why you wanted to direct it?

Absolutely yes, that’s certainly one of the reasons. I knew that this show would offer an experience like no other in a theatrical setting. I loved how audacious, provocative, silly and sublime the play was and knew that if we could match what was demanded on the page with our production values, we’d have a pretty special and memorable night in the theatre. As a hip-hop DJ there aren’t many plays that offer a 25-minute concert as part of a show so that also appealed to me, as did the powerful themes in the show.

Theatre which provokes a reaction is so important, even if it divides audiences. When you have attended, what has the atmosphere been like?

I think on the whole audiences have met the work on its own terms. It is deliberately provocative but from what I understand no one has ever walked out, or interrupted the play – they understand it isn’t a manifesto – it’s a play. There is so much room for laughter and celebration and joy in this play – it is honestly a great night out – it’s full of comedy, music, slapstick, direct-address to the audience. It has all the right ingredients for a fun and transformative experience in the theatre and then – at the very end it takes a pretty sharp turn…

Do you feel that theatre is doing more than token gestures when it comes to representation, or do you feel we still have a long way to go?

It’s like a pendulum, it swings to-and-fro. Sometimes I feel we are making huge strides; other times I despair at how slowly things seem to change. Ultimately, I do feel there is progression being made – we’ve moved beyond tokenistic casting into something that feels more rooted and consistent, there are more directors and writers from underrepresented backgrounds making work and we have seen a boom in work being presented commercially and in the West End. The fact that I can bring a show like this to cities around the UK also convinces me that something has shifted. So – there is work to be done but I think it’s important that we acknowledge the work that has already been done too.

What do you love about Manchester?

I lived in Manchester from 2014 to 2018 when I was the Associate Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre (when Sarah Frankcom was the Artistic Director). I fell in love with the city – I felt a real sense of community whilst there. I really love the spirit of resilience and resistance that exists within Manchester – it’s got such a strong radical history, and I think the city carries that energy today. The theatre, music and arts scene is rich and multi-faceted, there is a great fringe theatre scene in Manchester which I found to be thriving when I was there (most recently at Hope Mill with my production of The Wiz). I love Manchester and consider it a second home, it’s where my daughter first went to school. I love Burton Rd, Crazy Pedros, The Laundrette, The Northern Quarter, Didsbury (where we lived), Chorlton, Ancoats, HOME, the Royal Exchange, The Lowry, The Hope Mill, Contact theatre, Z Arts, The Whitworth, The Metropolitan, Bundobust and Sandinistas!

If someone thought that they like the sound of Tambo & Bones but needs persuading, how would you encourage someone to come along?

I’d simply say give it a try – it’s 90-minutes long and is honestly like nothing else that has happened in a theatre – it’s satirical, funny, poignant, smart and hugely entertaining. It’s got comedy, hip-hop and revolution. Have a read around it – check out trailer, the slew of great reviews (although some have spoilers!), check out the audience responses – and then grab a ticket!

Tambo & Bones is at HOME from 1st – 5th April and you can book tickets here.