Coup Fatal: Platel, Cassol, Vangama and Kakudji, Sadler's Wells.

Coup Fatal brings together musicians from the Democratic Republic of Congo, extracts from various baroque composers, and the daring Belgian choreographer Alain Platel in an exciting mash-up of styles and cultures.
The show draws its inspiration from the sapeurs, or dandies, of the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.
 Famed for its elegant yet colourful and flamboyant attire and self-conscious swagger, the sapeur sub-culture is often seen as a post-colonial take on the European dandies of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Despite often living in dire poverty in shanty towns, the sapeurs make a point of looking their best at all times.
In their eye-catching costumes, a 12-piece band from Kinshasa will play a mixture of traditional and popular Congolese music, rock and jazz, blending in baroque phrases. The singer is the truly outstanding Congolese counter-tenor Serge Kakudji.
The set brings a sharp reminder of the war-ravaged country these musicians hail from. It was designed in collaboration with the artist Freddy Tsimba, who uses cartridge cases he collects in Congolese war zones to create vast disquieting sculptures.
Staging is by the avant-garde Belgian choreographer, Alain Platel, director of the experimental ballets C de la B, which are regular visitors to Sadler’s Wells. Together with dancer Romain Guion, Platel will bring movement and dance to the evening, following his motto: “this dance is for the world and the world is for everyone.”
With this combination of styles and talents, Coup Fatal makes for a vibrant, eclectic, truly international evening, with enough appeal to the senses and, with its poignant reminders of war and poverty, not a little food for thought.

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