Into the Hoods - Novello Theatre

SYNOPSIS

FOLLOWING its success at two successive Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, ZooNation’s urban fairytale, Into the Hoods, will transfer to London’s West End – to the Novello Theatre where it runs for a limited season – from March 26 (previews from March 14) to May 10, 2008.

Based on Stephen Sondheim’s 1989 musical, Into the Woods, the hip-hop version follows two children who are lost in the hood. An evil landlord befriends them after they have played truant from school and they are offered a room in his tenement block on the condition they work for him.

Reluctantly the children embark on their mission, which leads them to the flats occupied by Spinderella, where they discover gold Adidas trainers; Lil Red, the owner of a bright red hoodie; Rap-on-Zel, the producer of the finest quality long weave in the city; and Jaxx (who lives in the basement), the owner of a white I-pod.

Kate Prince (Strictly Dance Fever) directs and choreographs Into the Hoods which is performed by 19 adults and nine children (three on stage). Many of the professional dancers have worked with celebrities such as Kylie Minogue, Nelly Furtado, Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce and Snoop Dogg.

ZooNation performs its trademark street dance/theatre style to music from Gorillaz, Massive Attack, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, James Brown, Snoop Dogg, Bob Marley, the Chemical Brothers and others.

They have previously appeared on television in Blue Peter, The Late Edition and Popworld; and made live appearances at events like West End Live, the official Olympic Celebration in Trafalgar Square and the opening ceremony for the Tour de France. They also took part in the hip hop festival Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells.

Prior to each show, a nightly warm-up will be provided by comedy rap poet Mister Gee.
Into the Hoods is presented in the West End by Phil McIntyre and Adam Speers.