Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu’s Our Mighty Groove delivers exactly what its title promises: a collective, rhythmic experience that feels as much lived as it is watched, set within the scale of Sadler’s Wells East. From the moment the music kicks in, the space starts to feel less formal, more like something shared. It pulls you into something immersive, where memory, movement and music begin to blur.
There’s a clear sense of fun running through the piece, and for the most part it feels earned rather than forced. The performances carry an ease that opens the room, softening the usual boundaries of a venue like this. That openness extends into the audience. You can feel people responding in real time — laughter, recognition, bodies starting to move almost unconsciously. The energy from the performers is infectious and carries outward, rippling through the audience in a way that makes the experience feel collective rather than observed.
The music is one of its strongest elements. Drawing on late 90s and early 2000s club sounds, it taps into a specific cultural memory that many will recognise. At its best, it genuinely feels like being in a club: the bass is physical, the pacing holds, and there’s a shared rhythm between stage and audience.
What the work does well is tell stories through dance without over-explaining them. It builds a series of moments that gesture towards connection, identity, and shared experience, allowing the audience to meet it where they are. That restraint is effective, although some sections feel less developed than others. There are moments where the choreography could feel tighter, particularly in transitions, where the energy dips slightly instead of building. Under Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu’s direction, there is a clear sense of intention and care for the world being created on stage, but at times it feels like it stops just short of pushing those ideas further or shaping them into something more defined.
Our Mighty Groove is engaging and immersive, making strong use of both its performers and the space. It doesn’t fully push past the familiarity it draws on, but offers something recognisable and enjoyable — if you’re looking for a night out that feels fun and easy-going.
NEED TO KNOW: Our Mighty Groove runs until Sat 4 Jul at Sadler’s Wells East | access £10 tickets by using GROOVE10 | find out more | Read our 2025 review of Our Mighty Groove
