A small group of GOC theatregoers enjoyed an engaging evening at the Oxford Playhouse, where Ballet Black presented a programme of primarily contemporary ballet. The company, notably the UK’s first professional Black-led neoclassical ballet company, offered a performance that sparked a range of reactions among the audience.

As is often the case with contemporary productions, opinions varied. Some described the evening as “a game of two halves”: the first part was visually striking and theatrical, while the second drew on the miners’ strikes of the mid-1980s, delivering a piece that was both thought-provoking and unconventional.

Others in the group expressed a preference for more traditional ballet styles. Nevertheless, regardless of individual tastes, the performance undeniably broadened perspectives and offered a fresh and stimulating experience for all who attended.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the production but from conversations I've had from some of those who went to the theatre, a pleasant evening was had by all although I understand the original venue for a meal was fully booked out and some members managed to grab a Pret A Manger meal to assuage their hunger!