Emerging from the deep, Mantawoman, Siren of Change, beckons the broken-hearted to join her on a healing voyage across the seascape of human emotion. Her vessel is Dragonboy, an enchanted, steel-stringed instrument whom she commands with bamboo mallets, conjuring iridescent melodies that transport the listener. Mantawoman vows to steer her passengers through the treacherous waters of Confusion, Grief, Lust, and Rage, and ultimately lead them to the hallowed land of Euphoria… on one condition: they must raise their voices.
Performed solo, Mantawoman’s eponymous extravaganza is genre-fluid, collaging together virtuosic Chinese repertoire, original dreamfolk songs, pop covers and mesmerizing improvisations. Tailored to the tastes of the LGBTQIA+ community, the show incorporates entertaining lip-syncs, comedy, wushu, and psychedelic video art. Listeners will be invited to sing along and reflect on their personal paths to wholeheartedness.
Featuring a special guest performance by the illustrious AJ Yi.
Run time 65 minutes, £10 presale, £15 at the door.
Low-income tier tickets available (£5), made possible by Supporter tickets (£20).
Doors 7:30PM
Show 8PM
BIO
By day, Mantawoman is Reylon "Manta" Yount (they/them), a scholar, singer-songwriter, and one of the world's premier players of the yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer). Manta toured internationally with the Silkroad Ensemble, playing venues such as Lincoln Center and Tanglewood, and became the first yangqin player to feature on a GRAMMY-winning album (Sing Me Home, 2016). In 2017, after graduating from Harvard College, they won a Marshall Scholarship and moved to London, where they completed two graduate degrees in music. From 2019-2023, Manta co-founded and co-directed the groundbreaking contemporary music collective, Tangram. In 2023, Manta was awarded the inaugural Southbank Centre Studio Residency and Jerwood New Work Fund to support the development of this show.
As a genderfluid, multiracial Chinese American, Manta treats the yangqin as an interface for exploring and producing transcultural identity. Drawing inspiration from Daoist philosophy and marine ecosystems, Manta makes heartfelt songs in a style they call "hypnopop," with a sound reminiscent of Björk and Depeche Mode.
Manta's mission is to inspire people who feel alienated to practice courage, authentic expression and radical joy. Through creativity, they generate cohesion beyond categorization and "mantafest" a reality that is more welcoming of difference.
Learn more at mantawoman.com
ACCESS:
Sadly, The Divine is currently not fully accessible.
The cabaret and club space are in the basement of the venue. There are 17 wide steps with slip resistant treads down to the space with sturdy handrails either side. The toilets are in the basement and are not accessible for wheelchair
users.
If you need further information, please refer to The Divine ‘About’
page on the website. www.thedivine.co.uk