Tap Factory At The Grove Theatre, Dunstable Review

Reviewed by Hilz

Tap Factory Review at Grove Theatre Dunstable 12th February 2023

Pure entertainment from start to finish!

This French troupe have won many accolades over the years. One member was world champion tap dancer two years in a row, another was a finalist on the French ‘So you think you can dance‘ show. A highly talented line up
We were expecting high energy, rhythms and dance – and we certainly got them – but what we didn’t expect was all the humour which run through the whole show.
It was hilarious! Excellent slap-stick of the Charlie Chaplin variety

It was a top class performance from the beginning and no-one put a foot wrong.
The ‘Caretaker’ started it all off with a light hearted diatribe (in a foreign language) and with humour-filled attitude
Then a stepladder appeared, with one guy drumming on it on one side and another guy dancing it on it on the other – magic
The drumming – one man on a drum kit in the middle and several on oil drums to the sides and above was amazing
When they played the oil drums the seats we were on reverberated with the rhythm, even though we were right at the back, and we felt immersed in the beats
It was high energy all the way through – how they kept it up we just don’t know – they were certainly nine super-fit men

There was a little bit of singing from the caretaker which was absolutely stunning and we wanted more
Later, he played an instrument similar to a flute but wooden, and it was absolutely ethereal – we could’ve listened to it all night
Another highlight – partly because it was unusual, and partly because it was musically beautiful, was a string tightened between the top of a broom and the top of an oil drum, and played with the fingers – so unusual, and so effective at the same time

The sound quality was exceptional, every small sound from the movement was captured
At one point, one of them was dancing on sand, and every little sweep was captured – it was brilliant
And so funny initially when he was pouring the sand out – but I won’t tell you and spoil it for you!
The acrobatics were also stunning
The main acrobat spent much of his time with aerial straps. His strength, control and balance were incredible

A couple of times there was audience participation, which went down really well- trying to replicate the clapping rhythms from the guy on the stage and him injecting humour into this too
Indeed, humour percolated through every scene

Near the end, a central machine was pumping out large smoke rings, which kept their shape right to the back of the theatre – again, we had never seen anything like it, which is always exciting
They took ordinary items and made them into instruments for example, a sweeping brush, drinks cans, oil drums, sand and buckets
Visually it was extremely well done – two stories of drums, acrobats and performers with great lighting effects
The choreography was also fabulous

During the second half a mock jukebox was operated and music of different genres was played. The dancers then showed their versatility with different dance styles

The whole thing was as good as something you would see in the West End and thoroughly enjoyable
And all the guys were muscular and good-looking (and occasionally shirtless…)

I just love drumming and rhythm and tap dancing, so I was almost in heaven
If you like percussion and rhythm, you will love this show.
If I could give it more than five stars out of five, I would!

Rating: 5/5

Ticket cost £26 plus £1 transaction fee

For more information or to book tickets please visit Tap factory | Grove Theatre or phone the box office on 01582 602080

Tap Factory was at:
The Grove Theatre
Court Drive
Dunstable
LU5 4GP