by Rebecca Law

Have Box Will Travel is described as DJ Charlie Dark’s “rites of passage story of a music geek: from a bedroom in South London to the world of the super DJ in 80 beats and back again.” The performance takes place in the Lyric Theatre’s 110-seat Studio, which brings the audience directly onto the stage. It’s a suitably urban space for this edgy performance with stylish yet uncomfortable chairs, which would be constantly reminding you to alter your posture, were you not instantly sucked into this mesmerising one-act, one-man show.

Charlie Dark has carved out a well-deserved name for himself in the arts world (he was one third of hip-hop trio, Attica Blues, with whom he toured the globe and is also a successful poet, creating spoken word collective, The Urban Poets Society) and plays himself in this admirably honest account of progressing from practising on his turntables in his bedroom at home in South London to making it globally as a DJ and producer.

Dark takes us through the highs of his irresistible rise until he eventually breaks down when he seemingly has it all, and even shares with us the embarrassment of his first child being born to the sound of Girls Aloud on the hospital radio as his plans of his “most important DJ-ing session of his life” go awry as his batteries on his iPod let him down.

Whilst Dark does not always give the most technically polished performance, it must be recognised as an impressive feat for someone to deliver such a tireless performance completely alone –and unaided (aside from an impressive collection of turntables). Dark undulates between the comic, the moving and the brutally honest, willing to both mock himself at various points in his life and to acknowledge the profound impact his chosen path had on his mother (who again, is beautifully and humorously portrayed by Dark).

Dark has an impressive stage presence, which compels the audience who, in their own way, eventually become an extended part of the show. Have Box Will Travel will particularly resonate with anyone who grew up in London. His references to Camden’s live music venue, Dingwalls, and Soho’s Reckless Records, will bring a smile to the faces of anyone who, in some way, dreamt of being a part of the city’s music scene.

This is a heartfelt performance, which is both witty and moving, cleverly fusing Charlie Dark’s talents for DJ-ing, story-telling and the spoken word, all played out against the backdrop of an upbeat sound track of club classics.

Have Box Will Travel is at The Lyric Theatre until Saturday May 13. It is written and performed by Charlie Dark and direction is from the hip-Hhp theatre pioneer, Benji Reid.