"4 Walls" by Rukus.

Derby Theatre.

This is a new play that has been created by a local music producer and hip hop artist named Rukus.

Now, I know that I am down wit the kids, sic AF (no "k"), dope, on fire and is wicked, cos I know that jungles are massive, but a lot of the lingo used in this play soared right over my head. That didn't bother me bruv, because the message is all that counts, and there is a wonderful message, in fact several wonderful messages given out from this exciting piece of new theatre.

"4 Walls" invites you into a world of community, discovering what our fundamental needs are, who informs them and how we navigate where we go.

A Caribbean woman is surprised to be caught up in a scandal, in her old age. A school kid suffers sleepless nights in fear of deportation, yet his dreams of a music career stay big. Then there’s what’s her face, you know, the young nomad, out of place soul plodding the lonely road and not to 4get Femi, the inner-city dreamer, ambitious and aspirational, a believer.

But as their journeys go on, something just seems wrong. Living in the same block of flats, each stranger is experiencing a deafening chorus of fear that crescendos and bursts into a Uni-verse, which is simply entitled: Find where you belong.

The production includes large scale digital projection, which completely floods the set, dance, poetry, live music as well as performance.

The large cast consists of a mix of professional actors and community ensemble are, Joseph Black (Landlord), Donna Brisoe-Greene (Ms Ivy), Timotei Cobeanu (Nico), Jerone Marsh-Reid (Femi), Oyin Orija (Marcia), Ida Regan (Lotte), Kate Spencer (Tisha), Bwalya Case (Effia), Nicole Grayley (Open Mic Night Singer), Jessi Johnson (Nurse), Maria Slack (Enemy 2), Iyisha Williams (Paramedic), Nilam Ruby Wright (Doctor); some of the above also making up the ensemble with D'Vybrant, Assis Jabang, Keke Manikii, Supreme, Tdot, Two2One and Tandeka Williams.

Directed by Anastasia Osei-Kuffour, assisted by Sharon White. Making a piece of theatre that may be off some people's radar and understanding can be made so much more understood by clever and sensitive direction; and that is what we have here. The story, to start with, is set out like a jigsaw puzzle where you are provided with pieces which you join together, but it's only when you get near the end that you see that every piece connects, in some way to every other piece. Anastasia and Sharon have directed this piece in such a way that the trail, and the pieces all become as clear as water and ultimately create the big picture from many smaller ones.

The Set and Costume Design is by Charlotte Henery. The set, which is built on four levels, including the stage level is rather clever, providing much space for the various scenes and providing a nice uncluttered canvas for the artistry to be painted.

The Lighting Design by Benny Goodman creates atmosphere, especially in the second act during one shocking scene where all the pieces start to fall into place. The Design is dramatic and this pulls you into the story, well and truly.

The Video and AV Designer, Grant Archer, was like another actor in this play. As mentioned, the video design told a story and completely covered the whole set. Not only did thid group of actors tell their story, but a story was also told by the video design.

The Sound Design by DeFaceless Producer, and I am so pleased that he may be faceless, but not Nameless. Theatre is a place where an audience member should train their ears, as well as their eyes, and listen for, and appreciate the magic of the way that something we take for granted, sound, really works for you. The effects, the volume and its' rise and fall to create different feelings or to highlight a section is so very important to me as a theatre devotee. Every bit of the design for this soundscape created some feeling, and I just hope that this was not missed by the many people who decided to hold their own conversations throughout the play. A wonderful sensory experience.

Musical Director is Ian Oakley. With the nature of the story and the age of almost all of the actors, I knew to expect a rich r 'n' b/hip-hop/jungalistic musical backing. I was not disappointed. OK, at sixty years old, I shouldn't really enjoy this style of music, but as I said at the start, I'm down wit tha kidz, and I can appreciate it. At the end of the day rap music, when composed positively is just poetry set to music. I loved the track that Nico performed as well as the one that Femi did on the open mic.

In complete contrast, the first musical piece we received was from Donna Briscoe-Greene, who completely fooled me into thinking that she was one of the elder actors as Ms Ivy. Looking at the photo in the programme, she is quite the stunner. And that also describes her vocals also. My mouth clanged to the floor when she really started to sing in the style of an old Lover's Rock vocalist; I melted!

I must mention the beautiful saxophone playing by Marcus Joseph. The saxophone is sexy and Marcus played like the instrument oozed liquid chocolate.

The Landlord figure, who also acted as the Narrator of the story was Joseph Black. He freely encouraged audience participation with his music playlist. Even though I may not have understood some of the language, The Landlord's narration kept me abreast of what was happening.

In act two there's a beautiful contemporary dance section, which told a story all of it's own, performed by Ida Regan as Lotty. What grace and delicacy, choreographed by Bradley Charles, who was also the Movement Director.

For anyone who may have seen the phrase "dramaturg", then this piece of theatre explains exactly what you should be looking for. The dramatic composition of the world within this play is brought to the fore when the movement direction and the dramaturg, Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong, join together. Truly stunning.

"4 Walls" is about an hour and a half long plus interval, and that interval soon comes around. I wondered, beforehand, why have an interval with a play that length? But the closing for act one ensures that it goes into the interval with a big closing!

"4 Walls" is at Derby theatre until Saturday 9 September.