Traplord, created by dancer, choreographer, and director Ivan Michael Blackstock, serves as a powerful and intricate exploration of black British masculinity, highlighting the various stereotypes that surround this subject. Blackstock has fine-tuned this work over nearly a decade, and a prior iteration, supported by Sadler’s Wells, won an Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production in 2022. The production has now returned for a limited engagement at the newly established Sadler’s venue in East London.

The performance features a dynamic mix of explosive hip-hop choreography, pulsating beats, poignant spoken word pieces, and sharp digital visuals. The show’s confidence and boldness, coupled with moments of ambiguity, make it a captivating experience. While not every element may resonate equally, Traplord presents a striking and ambitious narrative portrayed by a talented nine-member cast within a setting that evokes both a raw, gritty landscape and an ethereal, if guarded, realm.

Experiencing Traplord is reminiscent of immersing oneself in an enthralling, yet perilous video game. The set designs by Shankho Chaudhuri and Chloe Lamford create an atmosphere rich in artifice, enhanced by the vibrant and sometimes blindingly bright lighting by Simisola Majekodunmi. Additionally, Ian William Galloway provides fitting video footage showcasing desolate streets and rocky landscapes traversed by a lone, helmeted figure on a motorcycle or on foot.

The performances are intense and controlled, with standout moments including those from poet Magero, who delivers monologues that gracefully shift from themes of failed criminal endeavors to surprising romantic stability, ultimately culminating in expressions of frustration and healing. Kanah Flex impresses with an extraordinarily flexible solo performance, while Blackstock himself portrays a memorable character, a comic yet troubled vagrant clad in a bunny-eared hoodie. Tackling issues such as suicide, homicide, and violence, Traplord is a loud, daring, and unexpectedly sensitive theatrical work that is certainly worth experiencing. ★★★★☆ 90min Sadler’s Wells East, London, to May 31.