Boy Blue

Manga (working title) is a new dance theatre production based on an original story combining hip-hop, manga design and martial arts from the Olivier Award winning company behind Pied Piper.

Following their arrest for delinquent behaviour, five youths land in a rehabilitation boot camp for young criminals run by Wang Tang – a retired secret service agent and Grand Master of the specialised martial art, Pih Poh. Despite early resistance to the discipline and study required in mastering the martial art, the five proved themselves to be fine students and in the process warm to their tutor as their talents are perfected.

However, following a prison break and the escape of the villain Chu Fang Wo – Wang Tang’s arch enemy – the five are catapulted into the centre of a battle for good against evil as they seek to break an age old mystical legend, requiring all five come together and share their skills in Pih Poh Fu in the fight to reinstate peace and harmony. Taking inspiration from the world of Manga, this new production is steeped in the visual identity, quirky characters, impossible martial arts and the physical feats so central to the comic book genre.

Featuring a company of up to 20 performers, Manga is commissioned by the Barbican (London) and Derry – Londonderry City of Culture 2013.