Barber Shop Chronicles review – hair-raising ebullience

Roundhouse theatre, London
Inua Ellams' play hurtles between London and Africa, so full is it of authentic male dialogue and connections

Even the clock moves at double time. A show set in a series of barber's shops sounds like a potentially sedentary affair but Bijan Sheibani's vibrant production - which transfers to the Roundhouse after two sell-out runs at the National and a whirlwind world tour - never stops moving. We roam across shops, shacks and stalls in London and throughout Africa and barely pause for breath. Rae Smith's makeshift set is on wheels, the barber's chairs are on wheels, possibly even the actors are on wheels. Inua Ellams' beautifully observed work is a pulsing and poetic delight; a sweeping snapshot of life as an African man as a dizzying host of customers take a seat, relax and let us into their lives.

Ellams spent six weeks in Africa researching his play, whittling 60 hours of recordings down into this two-hour show. Sometimes the script is almost too rich - there's so much information to take in - but it's an undeniably beautiful thing, packed with authentic dialogue and stunning flashes of insight.