Reviewed by Maddie Shimwell
Opening Night verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Liverpool Empire buzzed with anticipation as Diversity fans packed the auditorium. Since their 2009 Britain’s Got Talent win, this loyal fanbase has supported the crew and embraced each return to the region.
Tonight’s performance was inventively interactive with Ashley Banjo asking the audience to scream when the image on the screen behind him was real and not AI, with images similar to those on a Capture to prove you aren’t a robot. This provided the audience with the essence of what the show was portraying with the question of, ‘What does it mean to be human in ever evolving technology and artificial intelligence?’.
We were then transported through a range of nostalgic throwbacks including video games and iconic Nokias which led us to being introduced to a video of Ashley Banjo spilling the drink of an older gentleman, George, at a train station, which sparks conversation. The rest of the performance was a mix of current discussions between Ashley and George, and flashbacks of George’s previous life, including how he first met Annie, the love of his life, before modern day technology played its part in day-to-day life.
The dancers delivered the flawless execution expected of such a world-class crew, however on occasion, the lighting and imagery projected behind them distracted from the talent that we had come to watch. There was a robot on stage that was able to show musicality and was humanised by having lights as eyes. But as expected, the human performers were able to hold the attention of the audience and were much more entertaining, although personally, I didn’t feel the impact of AI on society was fully grasped within the performance.
There was also footage of the current ongoing conflicts throughout the world, this felt at times jarring and I am unsure of its place within the show as it felt shoehorned in and not entirely relevant to the impact of AI and technology, and if this was their message, it needed to be made a lot clearer.
The second half of the show felt lighter, with videos of Ashley Banjo’s children telling him what they would like to see from the show. This progressed into the company performing to the Wicked soundtrack, with Ashley dressed in princess attire.
Of course, Diversity put on an excellent show with faultless formations and incredible execution of difficult technique. The message they were trying to portray of slowing down and being present in the moment, without the constant distraction of technology, was strong. While the theme of artificial intelligence was not always as clearly explored, the performance still reminded the audience of the importance of human connection and shared experiences. Ultimately, the skill and creativity of the dancers ensured that the show remained engaging and entertaining throughout.
Opening Night 