Together with

As his powerful work, TRAPLORD, comes to Sadler’s Wells East, The Wick talks to award-winning dance artist and cultural creator, Ivan Michael Blackstock about the show, which sold out 180 Studios on it’s debut run.

Now back on stage in East London, the production explores raw and confrontational themes around the stereotyping of Black men in contemporary western society, mental health and masculinity. It’s a must-see with tickets from only £15, 28th - 30th May.

What’s the most vital message that TRAPLORD brings to its audience?

That healing isn’t linear — it’s messy, emotional, spiritual, and sometimes even chaotic. TRAPLORD is about confronting your demons, not hiding them. It’s me peeling back the layers of masculinity, especially from a Black lens, and saying, “Look, there’s power in the cracks.”

We’ve been conditioned to always appear strong, but real strength comes from being honest about the pain, the pressure, the inner conflict. I want people to feel seen — to know that it’s okay to not have it all figured out. It’s about survival, yes, but it’s also about transformation.

What do you feel is gained artistically by the particular mix of dance, spoken word, theatre, visuals, and music in this work?

This blend of forms is intentional — I see them as tools to build a language that goes beyond just words. Dance allows me to speak through the body; it carries trauma, freedom, rage, ecstasy — everything. Spoken word helps shape the inner voice, the raw thoughts that we usually keep buried. Theatre brings structure to the chaos, visuals set the emotional tone, and music holds it all together.

When they’re all working in harmony, you don’t just watch TRAPLORD — you feel it on multiple levels. It’s layered like a dream or a memory. And in that layered space, the audience can find their own meaning, their own truth.

Why should all East Londoners come and see this show?

East London’s got that rebel energy — always pushing boundaries, always flipping the script. TRAPLORD taps into that same vibe. It’s built on culture, on rhythm, on lived experience. If you’ve grown up around council estates, Caribbean front rooms, grime raves, or just the everyday hustle of trying to stay afloat — there’s something in this for you. It’s not just a performance, it’s a conversation.

I want people to walk out feeling like they’ve been through something, like they’ve been seen and heard in a way traditional theatre doesn’t always offer. This is our version of high art — rooted in the streets, but speaking to the spirit.

Do you think Black masculine stereotypes are shifting in a positive direction or are we stuck, maybe even going backwards in the digital era?

I think we’re in this weird in-between space. There’s definitely progress — more of us are talking about mental health, showing emotion, rejecting the old-school ‘man up’ mindset. You’re seeing more variety in how Black men are portrayed, not just on screen but in music, in fashion, in everyday life.

But at the same time, the internet has made it easy to fall back into caricatures — the overly aggressive image, the hyper-masculine bravado, the clout-chasing. A lot of young people are consuming these versions without real context or reflection. So yeah, there’s movement, but the work isn’t done. That’s why it’s important to create honest, grounded spaces — like TRAPLORD — that give permission for complexity. We’re not just one thing. We never were.

How will you be making use of the space at Sadler’s Wells East, and how will it compare with the original 180 Studios production?

180 Studios had that underground, raw energy — it felt like you were stepping into an abandoned carpark full of memory you weren’t supposed to see. It was intimate, almost like a confession. Sadler’s Wells East is a different space, going back to the more theatrical and I’m excited to play with that. We are coming to East London so we have to bring that authentic grit, that authentic truth and celebrate returning home where it all began.

Catch TRAPLORD at Sadler’s Wells East 28th-30th May - info and booking here

🌳Yes, we flagged it last week, but didn’t have space for a photo (and we’re sure you’ll agree it’s a stunning sight, well worth including ⬆️). Board the Mildmay line direct to Kew to check out locally-based digital art pioneers Marshmallow Laser Feast’s Of the Oak, their latest inquiry into the hidden life of trees. Commissioned by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, in collaboration with ecologists, biologists, and researchers. Until 28th Sept.

👖 Returning for its third year 23rd - 25th May, the Westfield Good Festival aims to empower visitors to embrace a more circular lifestyle. You can discover pre-loved treasures at the Depop Marketplace, revitalise your wardrobe at the SOJO Fix & Fit pop-up, unleash your creativity with eco-conscious workshops led by experts from Depop and Sante & Loanhood, and explore greener skincare at Kiehl's refillable beauty pop-up.

🌏 You and I Are Earth at UCL Mashgate and the One Pool St Cinema is the Degree Show by students from UCL’s BA Media programme, with films, games, installations, and podcasts that examine our evolving relationship with each other and the planet. Fri 23rd May – Sun 1st June.

👯 From music to comedy and dance to drag, A Right Old Royal Variety Performance continues Stratford East’s ongoing 140th birthday celebrations this Sat 17th May with a whole host of top draw talent on one stage.

🎶It’s the closing party for UCL Urban Room’s current exhibition Summer Flowers, On Vinyl on Fri May 23rd. A listening session to gather records and celebrate the life and work of South Africa and Botswana-based writer Bessie Head. Attendees are invited to bring a vinyl record from the era of Bessie's life that connects with joy, gardening, writing, and liberation to be played on the specially designed Summer Flowers turntable.

👚 There’s a Titi.Poem pop-up designer market at Indra Gallery Sat 17th & Sun 18th May with a curated selection of niche designer brands from China and beyond with DJs, performance art, drinks and more. Then on Tues 20th, Fashion Relevancy is a show from the C303 Collective that is not about trends, but taking a look at the agency of clothing in shaping cultural futures. Runs to Thurs 22nd.

Win all-week wristbands for SXSW London!

A full week-long music festival wristband (worth £99 each) gets you access to a mind-boggling 500+ gigs featuring artists, including Miraa May, Sienna Spiro, Mabel, Alice Glass, Lila Iké, Carleen Anderson and masses more every night.

The Wick has 5 pairs of all-week music festival wristbands up for grabs! All you have to do is reply to this newsletter with the subject line ‘SXSW London wristbands’. For more chances to win, share this newsletter with a friend using your unique referral link in the box below. The more of your friends who subscribe to our free weekly updates, the more chances you both have of winning a pair of SXSW London music festival tickets. Go for it!
We’ll draw and announce the winners at random on Thurs 29th May. Over 18s only please. Prize value is not transferrable.

⚠️ Call out! Are you a locally-based artist, film-maker or musician appearing at SXSW London? We’d love to interview you! Reach out today at [email protected] and we can feature you in the next edition of The Wick ⚠️

🎚️ There’s an intimate night of house music at Colour Factory’s Mezzanine on Sat 17th May as Bubbledee bring Manchester-by-way-of-Berghain DJ and vinyl collector Willow to headline, with support from Andrea Giudice, and Larry Cadge.

🎺 The sixth edition of Tina Edwards’ jazz dancefloor party Love Is Everywhere lands canal side at Grow on Sat 17th May. Paying homage to classic jazz dance floor culture but with a modern twist, she bring South London married DJ duo the Handson Family plus jazz dance lessons from Masumi Endo and a dance performance from FootNotes, too.

🏃🏽‍♀️‍➡️ Back at Grow on Sun 18th May is the sure-to-be-mobbed Hackney Half marathon afterparty, where participants and their fans can celebrate with legendary DJ Dominic Benjamin bringing pure good vibes to the terrace dropping Hip Hop, House, Mash Ups, Remixes and other dancefloor destroyers all afternoon.

🍹 It’s 2-for-£12 cocktails tomorrow night, Thurs 15th May and indeed every Thursday at The Lord Napier Star, so all roads lead to the suntrap roof terrace to get the weekend started early.

💻 Evo Pioneers is a free 12-month programme for Hackney locals who have recently started a business or have a purpose-led idea and are looking for the next steps to get it off the ground. You’ll enjoy free workspace in Old St with business support, networking opportunities, regular check-ins with the community team, peer-to-peer support and access to a wider business network, all as part of The Trampery family. Apply by 26th May.

🌍 Apply now for the QEOP-based British Council’s Connections Through Culture (CTC) Grants 2025, which support artistic collaboration between the UK and select countries in Asia, Europe and Australasia’. Grants of up to £5k or £10k depending on region will be awarded across a wide range of creative disciplines from architecture to theatre. Deadline 23rd June.

🦵🏽 Well loved local fitness crew Strong + Bendy are about to open a brand new dedicated reformer Pilates studio in the building formerly known as Akasa and Open House Hackney before that. Classes start from Mon 26th May and they are also currently looking for experienced local reformer teachers to join the team - email [email protected] for more info.

❤️‍🩹 Catch the remaining events in Here East Mental Health Awareness Week including free training sessions at F45 Stratford and Latino Zumba with LMA, all at their venues around the Here East campus until Fri 16th May.

💃🏽 Join the weekly Ecstatic Dance Sunday session at The Bath House on Sun 18th May which sees a special Movement Medicine x Ecstatic Dance hybrid session, with transformative movement guidance courtesy of Mira Khanya.

More newsletters you should try…