Harlem Globetrotters at the Manchester Arena Review
Harlem Globetrotters
Manchester Arena
20 April 2015
Reviewed by Jo Flaherty
Wow! What an unbelievable experience! There can’t be many people who haven’t heard the name ‘Harlem Globetrotters’ – but I’m not sure how many know exactly what they’re all about. Synonymous with basketball the world over, this group of skillful athletes really understand their sport and their audience.
I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but the setting of the Manchester Arena was perfect. Just using the lower tiers gave it a really intimate atmosphere and my son and I were lucky enough to get courtside seats – which gave us an amazing view of all the action. And there was action aplenty! Right from the start, there was a brilliant buzz, the compere making all the introductions, setting the scene and dialing the tempo right up. Although my son and I both like sport, I’m not sure either of us would have listed basketball up there with our favourites – we really didn’t know what kind of evening we had lined up. All of the players have their own particular characters and they really play up to them. This tour is The Harlem Globetrotters vs the Washington Generals and there’s a real narrative behind the game, a story played out on the court, punctuated by clever tricks, skills and pranks. But these guys are no clowns – underneath the comedy, there are some top quality players, playing some stunning basketball.
There’s a real family atmosphere, and plenty of opportunity for audience participation (in the non-cringeworthy sense), often with more than a hint of pantomime. The sections of the evening involving the mascot Globie, and his big bro Big G were really well choreographed and laugh-out-loud funny. The Harlem Globetrotters really take sports presentation up to the next level – top class, and after the show, they do an open meet and greet on the concourse, posing for photographs and signing merchandise. There wasn’t a ridiculous queue, and my son managed to get his programme signed by quite a few of the players – definitely worth sticking around for an extra few minutes at the end, and a real bonus at the end of a great show.
On the way home, I asked my son what kind of words I should use to describe the experience and he plucked out all the superlatives he could – exciting, hilarious, brilliant, fantastic. So there you go. I probably couldn’t sum it up better myself. If you’re looking for an exciting, hilarious, brilliant, fantastic night out, look no further. We’ve already looked at where and when we might be able to see them again.
Rating: 5/5 
The Harlem Globetrotters are currently on the UK leg of their World Tour and will be stopping in Liverpool, Nottingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Sheffield. For more details and venues visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com/full-schedule.
To book tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters on tour visit:
www.livenation.co.uk/artist/harlem-globetrotters-tickets.
Manchester Arena. Victoria Station, Hunts Bank, Manchester M3 1AR
