Black

The man behind the lycra and long lashes is George Ikediashi, aka Le Gateau Chocolat, who has brought his autobiographical story Black to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Nigerian born Ikediashi graces the stage with his deeply personal story of his journey through life belonging to a minority. Being black, gay, overweight and battling depression has meant a life filled with judgement and squashed dreams, but what has remained is his humanity and compassion.

Combining his skills in opera, cabaret and theatre, he exposes us to the underlying sadness he lives with daily. As he channels his baritone voice into operatic arias, Nina Simone and Whitney Houston - just to name a few - his story is both entertaining and heartbreaking.

A dimly lit bedroom houses a lost soul whose loneliness can be felt as he narrates his journey thus far. The bedhead doubles as a screen on which a thoughtful cartoon is projected. The tale of ‘Little Black’ with big dreams progresses through to reveal the man who stands before us and we affectionately now call ‘Big Black’. A world determined to dull his shine has failed. Having not given in to suicide like many friends before him, this man’s strength resonates through the theatre.

Although the dimly lit stage mimicked the mood, I found myself yearning to see more of the face of the man whose pain we were witnessing. His wonderfully emotive voice bellowed from the dark and we were unable to take joy in his heart-warming expression.

The feeling of not belonging or trying to navigate through an unjust world is a theme that can be understood by everyone to a degree and it is because of this that this performance is unique.

Powerful in its delivery and subtle with its message, Black is unforgettable.

Kerry Cooper

Photography by Robbins Photographic.