Life's struggles in music fusion

A piece of gig theatre like no other, Tones - A Hip Hop Opera is one-man's lyrical life story about growing up in a culture obsessed with class and race.

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Combining the gritty underground sounds of hip-hop, grime and drill with the melodrama of opera, this uplifting, bold and masterful performance blew audiences away at The Edinburgh Fringe and now plays Bristol Old Vic from May 6 to 10.

From writer and performer Gerel Falconer, Tones is a riveting, beautiful and cleverly staged exploration of the black identity and the mixed experience.

What happens if you're not black enough for the ends, but too black for the rest of the world? Tones - A Hip Hop Opera follows the pivotal moments of lead character Jerome, AKA grime artist The Professor, from primary school to Durham university.