Saturn Returns at the Unlimited Festival Review

A choreopoem by Sonny Nwachukwu exploring the psychospiritual clashes produced in Black people by the weight of history.

Image: Pete Woodhead, Saturn Returns, Southbank Centre

Before this review begins, let’s answer a question: what is a Choreopoem?

A Choreopoem being a type of drama that combines  dance, music, song, and poetry. It was coined by Ntozake Shange in 1975, who similar to the performance of Saturn Returns used it to address issues relating to race. A choreopoem focuses on evoking emotion instead of focussing on any specific plot, and uses movement as a key form of communication in doing so.

This is exactly what was achieved in the performance of Saturn Returns. Two characters Ada and Obi move through past, present and the astral (also needed to google this – a non-physical realm in which various paranormal and psychic elements belong).

In this journey the characters bring themes related to black culture, entwined in issues commonly seen in modern relationships: miscommunication, hard decisions about childbirth, the push and pull of interest, and the ever necessary interdependence between humans to be able to survive.

On reading the astrological phenomenon behind the term ‘Saturn return’, it is stated that psychologically this is seen as a time that an individual is faced for the first time with adult life, and the difficulties and opportunities that may pose. The words ‘round and round’ are chanted over and over, perhaps nodding to the need to ‘go on’ in human existence, with both the heaviness and tedium that can bring.

Delivered through emotive poetry, the hour-long performance was interspersed with significant periods of just movement, giving the audience the space to make what you wanted of what was unfolding on stage. The show was both relatable and eye-opening, with commendable acting and writing.

This production was a part of the Unlimited Festival, a major UK festival and multi-art programme celebrating the work of disabled artists in partnership with the unlimited commission fund. If you get the chance to see this performed live again, take it up.

Location: Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX. Date: 7 –⁠ 8 Sep 2022, 7.45pm

Words by Olivia Samuels