Boys Don’t Dance is exactly the kind of joyous show you hope to find at a festival. Marc Brew adapts his own story for young audiences, blending dance, BMX, and wheelchair choreography into a slick, energetic hour full of heart.

The relaxed performance I attended set the tone beautifully. A friendly pre-show video explains what to expect, including creative captions, audio description, sign language, and sensory warnings. It also reassures audiences that they can behave however they need to. It is welcoming and instantly calming.

The staging is sharp and clean. A ramp dominates the space, with a TV screen tucked underneath showing images of “how boys should behave”: sports and beer.

At the centre is Piotr Iwanicki, whose wheelchair becomes part of the choreography rather than a limitation. When he looks into a mirror, Ross Malloy, his younger self, appears, a bundle of energy. Together, they take us through Brew’s childhood in rural Australia, with moments that are funny, moving, and sometimes raw.

Malloy’s BMX skills are impressive and certainly drew applause from the audience, but his real passion is dance. He practises in secret, performing for sheep or sneaking in routines when his mother thinks he’s watching TV. His dancing is crisp, joyful, and full of personality; a cheeky response to the idea that boys shouldn’t dance.

The soundtrack by Azariah Felton, packed with 1980s adverts and bands such as Wham or Culture Club, adds to the fun. It creates a world where pop culture gives young Brew a glimpse of freedom and self-expression.

The show does not shy away from difficult ideas. Brew finds joy and freedom in dressing up in his mother’s clothes and dancing, but when he brings that side of himself outside, he faces prejudice and danger. The piece asks why boys and girls are expected to behave in certain ways and who decides what is “acceptable”.

Brew’s life changed dramatically after a car accident at 20 left him paralysed from the waist down. Instead of ending his dance career, it opened new possibilities. Iwanicki shows this through powerful wheelchair choreography, making the chair part of the movement rather than something that holds him back.

The duets between Malloy and Iwanicki are the emotional heart of the show. Their movement becomes a conversation, sometimes playful, sometimes painful, but always believable. They work brilliantly together, showing that wheelchair choreography can expand what dance can be rather than simply being something added to it.

Visually, the production is clean and effective. Rachel O’Neill’s design gives the performers space, while Jamie Wardrop’s animation and Nia Wood’s lighting add atmosphere without getting in the way.

Inclusive from the very beginning, the show welcomes both children and adults. When Iwanicki and Malloy come together, the result is moving, funny, and wonderfully optimistic.

A joyful and brilliant show that proves dance really is for everyone. Boys Don’t Dance is a show that is colourful, energetic and stylish enough to keep adults interested: thoughtful, funny and genuinely uplifting.

A radiant, inclusive triumph.

Reviewed by Nina Gardner

Five Stars.

Playing at: – DB1 at Assembly @ Dance Base until 23^rd August

Tickets and further information can be found following the link below

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/boys-don-t-dance

Credits:

Concept and Direction: Marc Brew
Choreography: Marc Brew in collaboration with the performers
Rehearsal Director: Hayley Earlam / Jade Adamson
Composer: Azariah Felton
Set and Costume Design: Rachel O’Neill
AV Designer: Jamie Wardrop
Dramaturg: Drew Taylor-Wilson
Executive Producer: Susan Hay
Producer (Imaginate): Pamela Walker
Commissioned by Imaginate in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts, supported by OneRen. Supported by the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund, development funded by Creative Scotland with support from The Work Room.