Carbón Club

Four miners emerge from below ground to share their stories in Markeline’s ecstatic Carbón Club. Performed at the National Theatre’s outdoor Square 2, this is a show that takes us to the depths of cave mines, entices us with ritual and celebration, and guides us with wisps of light.

The miners are also the masters of ceremony for the evening. There’s Jose, who (repeatedly) dies a day before his wedding. His bride to be, Carmen, forever waiting for her future husband to come out up from below ground. Antonio, who tries to conceal his love for his miner friend. And Sasha, the mysterious Eastern European night dancer who entertains the workers.

Weaving beauty and terror through oddball storytelling, the structure of this surprise-packed cabaret is punctuated by a range of brilliant pyrotechnics that shape the atmosphere and light up the night. Through rings of fire and bursting flares, intriguing religious images appear such as a priest walking with a burning bible; the images intensify the relationship the miners have with their destinies.

There’s a constant tension between tragedy and comedy as riot, grief and struggle turn into humorous celebration; giving birth will never be the same after seeing the miners scavenge for the baby. Each character lives its own tragedy that turns into spectacle, but there’s no time to linger, for at any moment, any time, anything can happen – and the performers are never afraid of their audience. The cabaret bursts into the square as wheeled structures of fire are pushed right into the pit of confused audience members, fire emerges from unexpected places and giant balls mark the beginning of a surreal bingo game.

With infectious energy, Markeline pay a unique tribute to the miners of the Basque Country bringing old stories back to life and adventure to the National Theatre’s Square 2. Carbón Club is bold, dark and surprising. It’s experiential theatre at its best.