CountryBoy's Struggle

Rap has long been the musical genre most associated with redemption, providing the poor and the disenfranchised with a voice through which they can transform hardship into positive and inspirational messages. Though the ingeniously staged CountryBoy's Struggle concerns itself with the rise of a white MC whose roots lie in remote Cornwall, it's firmly in keeping with the traditional rap narrative and delights in spite of its obvious plotting.

Written by and starring Maxwell Golden, the one man show relates the life of Michael Crompton to us through a combination of storytelling and hip hop. In a bold move, we are introduced to the character immediately prior to his birth. He values the comfort and security provided by his mother's womb and longs to postpone his harrowing fate, his visceral and evocative description of the event establishing Golden as a writer of rare form. This scene is mirrored in impact by Michael's account of his formative exposure to music. An outcast among his parochial peer group, our hero must achieve success in London's rap scene before he can find true peace.

What makes CountryBoy's Struggle such an affecting work is Golden's multifaceted performance in which he brings several characters to life with humour, sensitivity and affection. He possesses a keen eye for detail and an innate understanding of people. His work feels very much alive and his science is pretty tight to boot.