Benjamin Zephaniah, Theatre Severn
REVIEW: Benjamin Zephaniah has a relationship with Shropshire that is best defined as special.
Benjamin Zephaniah
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
Benjamin Zephaniah has a relationship with Shropshire that is best defined as special. As a teenager, he was sent to a young offenders' institution in the county.
Now he's a hero whose fans turn out in droves whenever he returns.
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Last night, the rasta poet played to 600 followers at Theatre Severn. He gave a mesmerising display of deft wordplay, humorous anecdotes and amusing stories.
Zephaniah engaged with his audience at every possible turn, exhorting them to participate in a question and answer session or responding to friendly heckles and interruptions.
He displayed candour and honesty, describing one occasion when he and three others stole a white Rolls-Royce from the posh Birmingham suburb of Coleshill.
There were stories about living near Ozzy Osbourne, about stealing a girlfriend from a member of UB40 – then losing her when the band app- eared on Top Of The Pops.
But it was his straight-talking and rhythmic poetry that really sparkled.
A poem in memory of Stephen Lawrence was laced with invective and brutal truth.
Zephaniah gave us a night to remember with poems that burned magnesium bright.
Andy Richardson
