Reading's soundsystem culture celebrated in new play
'The Sound' brings alive the town's Jamaican soundsystem culture of the 1970s and early 80s.
A new theatrical production exploring Reading's vibrant soundsystem scene of the 1970s and 80s will be staged at South Street Arts Centre this month, co-written by current and former students from the University of Reading.
The Sound, running from 21-24 January, tells the story of how Caribbean music and culture transformed Reading, establishing the town as a key hub in the UK soundsystem movement. The immersive production, performed to a standing audience, recreates the atmosphere of a soundsystem night, combining live performance with the music that defined an era.
Based on interviews with members of Reading's Caribbean community who were central to the scene – including selectors, operators, box boys and MCs – the production celebrates the pioneers who shaped Reading's musical heritage. The show also features local artists Rueben Irie Sound and Jah Lion Movement.
Skully Roots - was part of the scene - and says he remembers how the music was all around him: "it was always in your system because of your parents so you just grew up listening to what they were listening to and we just took it and put our own stamp on it in terms of the way the soundsystem looked and how it worked."
Reuben Irie got into soundsystems aged 13, he told us it was all about what you played: "It was always to get the music out there because it wasn't played on the radio much but when you got two soundsystems in a venue it's not a clash it becomes a competition to see who plays the best and who has the best tunes."
The show follows two Reading schoolchildren in 1974 as they discover the sounds arriving from the Caribbean, embarking on a journey that would see them become part of a cultural phenomenon that took them across the country.
Chardae Phillips plays 'Yvonne' and admits she didn't know too much about soundsystems: "my uncle used to listen to soundsystems in his car and I always used to think 'what is this I don't know what this is it's loud and'....but coming into this and learning more about it I see the reason why, and what it means to Jamaican people and I've learnt a lot about my culture."
Producer John Luther had the idea for 'The Sound' after watching some old videos of the soundsystems, he says Reading was a significant part of the national movement: "Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol they would go all around the country being invited and there were some very important London soundsystems and if they couldn't do a gig they would ask Reading ones to 'dep' for them which was the highest respect you could pay so yeah Reading soundsystems were really respected."
The Sound is part of SITELINES, South Street's programme of theatre in unusual spaces, which has brought innovative companies to Reading and worked with local talent to create productions about the town's history and community.
Director Benedict Sandiford says it's an immersive show: "The whole thing takes place on the dance floor the whole thing will move and we'll have two soundsystems going and then scenes will appear and disappear and the story will be told in and on the dance floor amongst the audience."
Tickets
Performances run at 7pm on Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 January, with an additional matinee at 2pm on Saturday 24 January. Tickets operate on a choose-your-own-price basis and can be purchased at whatsonreading.com.
The production has been supported by Arts Council England with National Lottery funding.