The Five & the Prophecy of Prana, The Barbican

Hip-hop meets martial arts in The Five & the Prophecy of Prana, – the latest dance work from the Olivier award-winning Blue Boy Entertainment company. Inspired by and steeped in the culture of Japanese manga comics, this is an exhilarating tale of the physical and mental transformation of five young offenders tasked with defending the world’s peace.Set in a rehabilitation camp for delinquents led by martial arts master Pih Poh Fu, a Guardian of Prana, a secret warrior group entrusted with the protection of a spell controlling peace, the Five find themselves thrust into battle with rebel forces who seek to seize the spell for themselves. Featuring a cast of 13dancers with training under Shaolin kung-fu monks, prepare yourself for a performance that’s exhilarating and playful in equal turns, embodying all the breathtaking stunts, energy, quirk and charm of comic-book culture.

Since its inception in 2002, Blue Boy Entertainment has steadily built up a reputation as London’s most exciting and innovative dance companies, and, to boot, some spectacular feathers in its cap. Their renowned 2010production Pied Piper met with phenomenal broadsheet acclaim and an ongoing Associate Artist-ship at the Barbican, not to mention artistic co-director Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy’s choreography of a large chunk of the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony.

With award-winning Manga artist Akio Tanaka and Associate Director of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony Paulette Randall on board as creative collaborators, expect exceptional visuals to match the Sandy’s choreography . A breath of fresh air on London’s dance stages, we think this will have you kung-fu leaping all the way home.

Suitable for ages 10 upwards.

Tickets :£16-£32

Address and Map: The Barbican Centre  Silk St, London, Greater London EC2Y 8DS

Nearest Tube: Barbican, Moorgate