4 out 5!

Ashley ‘Bashy’ Thomas is well on his way to becoming a household name. Having been a music supervisor for Noel Clarke’s Adulthood (2008) and set to star in his upcoming 4.3.2.1 (2010), he’s also released mixtapes and a debut album, Catch Me If You Can. So it was no surprise that he plays lead in Jonzi-D’s hip-hop play Markus The Sadist at Bloomsbury theatre, which focuses on the dark side of the music industry.

The play follows Markus Wright, a skilful young rapper eager to make it in the music industry. After slick A&R Top Blizzy sees his talent, he offers him a deal that will change his life for good. But there’s a catch – Markus must change his accent and persona to that of an American gangsta rapper and start rapping about guns and murder.

it is the story’s frighteningly close resemblance to the real world that really hits home

As Markus accepts, reluctantly, we witness his exploitation. His music videos begin to undermine women, the media fabricate stories of him killing people and his bosses make him rap about certain products in order to rake in the sponsorship money.

Bashy’s performance is outstanding, as he authentically switches from timid young rapper to brash gangsta superstar, and with the whole dialogue delivered in bars, it successfully gives off a hard-hitting hip-hop atmosphere.

Soweto Kinch’s excellent music and the incorporation of the audience give the play a unique twist, but it is the story’s frighteningly close resemblance to the real world that really hits home. The scene with Top Blizzy and his boss, played magnificently by Rob Broderick, symbolises how the corporate world exploits the music industry for big cash.

The play is a major triumph, incorporating an excellent story with superb technical qualities, with video projection showing news stories and music videos, catering to a wave of fresh young audiences raised on fast-moving images.

The performances are exceptional, and as this is the second playing of Markus The Sadist after last year’s successful tour, it just goes to show the unique stamp that British hip-hop icon Jonzi-D is making within theatre. If Mr Bashy Thomas continues the way he does nobody in his field will be able to catch him, even if they could.

Check our exclusive interview with Bashy here