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Blaze FM

 
Olivia Thompson Review by Olivia Thompson 3 Published: 6 Aug 2025 Pleasance Courtyard Show Dates: 30 Jul 2025-25 Aug 2025

Blaze FM explores life on a Hackney council estate from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s through the lens of a pirate radio station founded by local resident Hughbert (performed by an excellent Andrew Brown), and later sustained by his two children and the wider community.

A compelling exploration of the UK’s social evolution

The show features fantastic live performances and charts the evolution from grime to drill in response to the complex social changes of the era. The community’s resilience is depicted in their responses to events such as the 2005 London bombings, a dubious reinvestigation of the Broadwater Farm riot, and a surge in youth violence.

The production is smart, lively and highly engaging. It provides a compelling exploration of the UK’s social evolution, with particular focus on the effects of gentrification in London and the strained relationship between Black communities and law enforcement, especially the Metropolitan police.

Original music broadcast through the station becomes a powerful outlet for characters to express defiance, joy, rage and love, with the community calling in and responding at the other end of the line.

At the heart of the story are Hughbert, his family and the community united through the radio waves. Through years of professional success, unimaginable grief and everything in between, each character becomes shaped by the world around them.

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The Blurb:

Electrifying political gig theatre – Blaze FM is a pirate radio station that keeps on kicking in the midst of court orders, injunctions, shutdowns by DTI, and outright attacks against Black music. This play with music from The Big House will take you back to the mid-2000s featuring Jungle, Grime and Drill.