Leah Hill as Ebony Scrooge [Pamela Raith Photography]

EBONY SCROOGE
Sadler’s Wells East
4 stars

Ebony Scrooge, the first ever Christmas show at Sadler’s Wells East, is a slickly choreographed fusion of hip hop, comedy and physical theatre. With shades of The Devil Wears Prada, Ebenezer Scrooge is reimagined as Ebony (Leah Hill), an ambitious and demanding fashion designer who cancels Christmas to concentrate on her latest show. She shuns colour, favouring black and white.

But when she is visited by her former partner, Janet Marley (Sia Gbamoi), and the ghosts of Christmas past (Portia Oti), present (Liberty Grieg), and future (Malachi Welch), she rediscovers her Caribbean roots and sense of joy.

Director, writer and choreographer Dannielle “Rhimes” Lecointe (associate artistic director of ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company) says she was inspired by her own experience of family, bereavement and reconnecting with her Caribbean roots when writing Ebony’s story of grief and renewal.

Rather than Tiny Tim, the story focuses on Ebony’s bond with her orphaned niece Freddie (Oti) as well as her friendship with Bob Cratchit (Welch is surely the funkiest Bob Cratchit we’ll ever see).

The high-energy performances are infectious – there’s breaking, locking, popping, waacking, vogueing, krumping and tutting – with brilliant talent on display from ZooNation’s ensemble to original music by Boy Blue’s Michael “Mikey J” Asante. Jo Scotcher’s set, Charlie Morgan Jones’ lighting, and Sarah Victoria’s sound design are seamlessly executed.

Natalie Pryce’s costumes are visually arresting, though I expected more riotous colour at the end. We’re encouraged to “make as much noise as possible” and the result is exhilarating festive fare in Sadler’s Wells’ fabulous new space.

Sadler’s Wells East
Entrance  off Stratford Walk, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20 2AR

Until January 4
sadlerswells.com