Rambert Dance have brought their ground-breaking interpretation of the cult TV series back to The Lowry and, quite simply, it’s mesmerising.
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby (Picture: Johan Persson)Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is dark, menacing and riveting. It’s a full-on assault on the senses with a spectacular trio of musicians providing a live soundtrack while the dancers tell the story of the rise and fall of the tormented Thomas Shelby.
It certainly helps if you have seen the TV series or are least familiar with the characters but even if you are completely new to the world of the Peaky Blinders, such is th quality of the storytelling, you will still be able to get so much from this production.
There is no dialogue as such but the late Benjamin Zephaniah’s rich Brummie tones can be heard as a sporadic narrator to guide you through the visual maze unfolding in front of you.
Cillian Murphy’s tour de force on TV makes you wonder if anyone else could ever be Tommy Shelby but Conor Kerrigan embodies the damaged and dangerous gangster. He’s got that square shouldered stance, the shrugging on of the overcoat is perfect – he is Tommy Shelby brought to the stage.
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby (Picture: Johan Persson)And all the other characters – Arthur, Polly, Grace and Ada are instantly recognisable, their different characteristics brilliantly observed by this cast of supremely gifted physical storytellers.