GROOVE at Southbank: 90 Minutes of Funk, Fire, and Flawless Talent

If there was anything worth seeing at the weekend, it was certainly GROOVE — a highlight of the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary programme.

If you missed it, you missed not only a visually stunning experience but also a musically rich one. The performance was unique and special, featuring multi-talented artists who reminded us why live performances still matter. This show was interactive and completely free of gimmicks, showcasing true enthusiasts of their craft, with their dedication and commitment evident throughout. They utilised the entire stage, while the live musicians brought a fun, funky energy to the performance. For a show that lasted 90 minutes, it passed quickly, leaving me genuinely wondering where the time had gone.

 

You could feel the thought that went into the production — the stage performances, the live music, and the way each moment flowed into the next without losing its edge. Very rarely do you see a guy come from behind the keyboards to the front of the stage and get busy on a B-boy level, but GROOVE had that kind of fearless energy. At one point, the entire audience was roped into an orchestrated two-step, which was really cool — not forced, not awkward, just a room moving together like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The audience was wonderfully diverse, consisting of couples, mothers, fathers, grandparents, and families—all engaging with the showcase in their own unique ways, yet all in sync with the same rhythm. The performers were not only dancers; they were also producers. They took the time to pay tribute to Herbie Hancock, the late J Dilla, the late Nina Simone, and the late Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Going a step further, they produced a track live in front of a packed audience, reminding everyone that this was more than just a performance—it was a creative process happening in real time.

If there was anything that reaffirmed something I’ve always believed, it’s this: it has always been about following your passion. These guys clearly have, and I applaud their flawless effort in doing so. There were solo musical pieces punctuated with freestyle dances that spoke a unified language — music and movement saying the same thing in different ways. The stage lighting and sound did their part too, painting a clean, powerful picture for every moment.

As part of its anniversary programme, the Southbank Centre will present COLOSSUS from Thursday, 25 June to Saturday, 27 June. This performance features forty-five dancers moving in unison, showcasing the UK debut of one of Australia’s leading choreographers, Stephanie Lake.

Additionally, Hofesh Shechter’s IN THE BRAIN is scheduled for Wednesday, 22 July to Saturday, 25 July. This performance, described as part rave and part ritual, is one of The Guardian’s top theatre and dance picks for 2026. It promises to break the barrier between stage and audience, immersing viewers in a fevered, all-consuming experience that leaves them wanting more.