Some stories demand to be told, and Dreamscape showing at The Arcola Theatre is one of them.

Rickerby Hinds’ powerful hip-hop theatre piece is inspired by the true story of Tyisha Miller, the 19-year-old Black woman shot dead by California police in 1998 while she lay unconscious in her aunt’s car. The production transforms a devastating tragedy into a moving celebration of life, memory and hope, reminding us that before Tyisha became a headline, she was simply a teenager with dreams, family, humour and a future.

Hinds introduces us to Myeisha Mills, a fictionalised version of Tyisha whose memories unfold through spoken word, rap, beatboxing and dance. Each of the twelve bullet wounds is announced in the cold, detached language of a coroner’s report, before giving way to a memory from Myeisha’s life. One moment you’re smiling at her teenage observations or laughing at a familiar family moment; the next you’re jolted back to the knowledge that her story has already ended.

The political message is never forced. Instead, Dreamscape quietly reveals the human cost of racial injustice and police violence by focusing on the life that was stolen, rather than the circumstances of her death. By the end, the tragedy isn’t just what happened to her, but everything that will never happen because of it.

The performances are exceptional. Kim Blanché Adonis is mesmerising as Myeisha, moving effortlessly between dance, poetry and direct address with warmth, wit and vulnerability. She makes Myeisha feel utterly real. Opposite her, Kgwadi Tshwarelo Selolo’s beatboxing and measured delivery as the Coroner create a haunting counterpoint, embodying the clinical machinery that reduces a vibrant life to evidence and anatomy.

The intimate setting of the Arcola Theatre draws the audience into Myeisha’s world, making every word feel like a personal conversation. Set against a soundtrack of 1990s hip-hop and pop culture references, there’s a nostalgia that feels both comforting and painfully ironic.

I laughed more than I expected. I felt angry, deeply sad and, unexpectedly, hopeful. It mourns a life lost while celebrating the joy that existed before tragedy struck.

This isn’t simply a play about death. It’s a reminder to see the person before the headline. And that’s what makes Dreamscape unforgettable.

Five Stars.

Reviewed by Nina Gardner

Showing at The Arcola Theatre July 28th – August 8th, 2026

For tickets and further information see link below

Dreamscape

Photo Credits                

Cast

Kim Blanché Adonis  Myeisha Mills

Kgwadi Tshwarelo Selolo        Coroner / Beatboxer

Creatives

Rickerby Hinds              Writer & Director

Carrie Mykuls                Choreographer:

Mxolisi Masilela           Co-Director

Gabrielle Williams      Project Manager for Hindsight Productions

Chris Corner                   General & Production Manager

Andy Jordan Productions       London Co-Producers