Diversity return to UK stages with SOUL. Written, Directed and Choreographed by Ashley Banjo, SOUL is a production that feels like a thrilling collision between the future we’re racing toward and the humanity we’re trying to hold onto.
Nearly two decades after their East London beginnings, the group continue to reinvent what dance theatre can be — and SOUL may well be their most ambitious leap yet. It’s a show that fuses futuristic spectacle with unmistakable human warmth, reminding audiences why Diversity remain one of the most influential performance groups in the country.
A Family Story Told Through Movement
What has always set Diversity apart is the sense of family that pulses through every beat. Led by Ashley Banjo, the troupe’s core of brothers and lifelong friends move with a unity that feels instinctive, almost telepathic. Whether it’s the Banjo brothers, the Craske brothers, or the wider ensemble of long-time collaborators, their connection is the emotional anchor of the show. You don’t just see the family bond — you feel it. It becomes the heartbeat of the entire production, grounding even the most highconcept moments in something deeply human.
A Futuristic Concept with Real Emotional Weight
SOUL imagines a world where artificial intelligence has evolved into something almost alive, blurring the line between human and machine. But rather than leaning into cold scifi tropes, Diversity use the concept to explore identity, connection, and the fragility of the human spirit. The narrative is ambitious, but it’s told with clarity and heart. A central theme running throughout this story is a chance meeting between Ashley Banjo and a complete stranger. This meeting inspires him to write this show about our relationship with others and with AI machines.
Ashley Banjo’s choreography is some of his most inventive to date. Mechanical precision melts into sweeping contemporary sequences; glitching, robotic motifs collide with moments of stillness and vulnerability. The stage becomes a living digital landscape, shifting and breathing with the dancers. It’s visually stunning, but never at the expense of emotion. Diversity have a rare ability to make big ideas feel intimate — and that’s their true superpower. Both sound and lighting play a big part however chest thumping bass lines and strobe lighting in the first act can distract from what’s actually going on.
A Tour Built for Everyone
With more than 60 dates across the UK and Ireland — including familyfriendly matinees — SOUL is designed to welcome audiences of all ages. Early reactions have been glowing, with many audience members describing the show as “emotional,” “breathtaking,” and “thoughtprovoking.” It’s the kind of production that leaves children wideeyed and adults unexpectedly reflective. That balance — mesmerising younger audiences while moving older ones — is rare, and Diversity achieve it with ease.
A Legacy That Keeps Growing
Since winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, Diversity have built a career defined by innovation and community impact. Their Essexbased Diversity Studio continues to nurture dancers of all ages, while their ongoing partnership with The Trussell Trust adds a meaningful layer to the tour, inviting audiences to support families facing hardship with a simple £1 donation.
Individually, the members continue to shine — from Ashley Banjo’s MBE and television work to Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely’s success on KISS Breakfast — but it’s on stage, together, that they remain unstoppable.
Verdict
SOUL is Diversity at their most daring: visually rich, emotionally charged, and unafraid to ask big questions about the world we’re building. It’s a reminder that even in an age of circuits and code, the human heart still leads the way. Ironically in a show about our relationship with AI machines, Robert The Robot’s expertly crafted choreography is a stand out moment.Diversity don’t just perform — they connect. And SOUL is their most powerful connection yet.
A mustsee for Liverpool audiences.
Follow @diversity_official on Instagram for updates.
