Theatre Review: HOT BROWN HONEY – HOME, Manchester

HOT BROWN HONEY at HOME, Manchester. Photo: Dylan Evans

Confronting and challenging perceptions of modern women, HOT BROWN HONEY is unlike anything you will have seen before

HOT BROWN HONEY is a group of six women who are out to make some noise – lots of noise! Throughout the show the audience are inspired to do the same.

Smoking hot, HOT BROWN HONEY confronts and challenges your perception of modern women in a performance which is unlike anything you will have seen before. The burlesque / cabaret style spectacle is aimed at raising awareness of women’s issues and challenging female and racial stereotypes and sexism.

Hailing from Australia (a mix of indigenous Australian, Samoan, Tongan, Maori Indonesian and African heritage) the performers are all hugely talented, each in in their own way, singing, dancing, comedy, aerial acrobatics, beatboxing and hip hop. Each performance is surprising and challenging in its content whilst allowing the performers to showcase the unique gift each of them has.

Highlights of the show included a reverse strip tease, the performance turning a male fantasy image of a pacific island girl morphing into one of a strong, powerful and fierce woman. Equally powerful and thought-provoking is a victim of domestic abuse – a woman with no voice – who tells her story through an adrenaline filled and visually stunning display of aerial acrobatics.

HOT BROWN HONEY at HOME, Manchester. Photo Credit: Dylan Evans

We were told at the start of the performance that we might feel a range of emotions when watching the show, including guilt – really? Guilt? I got it when listening to the beautiful voice of the singer dressed in a golliwog outfit. I personally felt sad at this juxtaposition before me and wondered how many of the audience felt guilt at ever owning one of these toys or for ever feeling this was an acceptable representation of a person of colour? Arguments still ensue about whether these are harmless icons or a symbol of racism. According to a recent survey, most Brits believe them to be harmless when in fact they are a vile reminder of our nation’s racist past. We have a way to go yet it seems on the road to eradicating institutionalised racism in this country.

I spoke to The Queen Bee, Busty, after the show. She said if you only take one thing away with you it is that we can all do something to make a change, however small that may be. So go and see this show, it will surprise and delight you, it will make you feel a range of emotions, possibly even guilt. You will feel like dancing too! But if you take Busty’s advice and make that small change you might just do something to help womankind today, however small and that’s got to be a good thing. If fighting the power is this much fun, we should all get on board and rock the boat a little bit.

Decolonise. Oh and don’t forget to moisturise!

HONEY BROWN HONEY at HOME runs until 23 December 2017. 

Lyn

Lyn Davies works a travel advisor Mon-Fri. Aspiring film critic on the weekends. Loves: reading, travel, theatre and cinema. Hates: ugly feet, men in socks and sandals.