Eventim Apollo, 26 October 2023

A live performance of the animated adventures of Miles Morales… and multiple other Spider-People…

The atmosphere outside London’s Apollo theatre was electric as a crowd of Spider-Man-mask wearing movie enthusiasts waited eagerly to be let in to a truly mindblowing live experience. With an all ages audience of families, children and friends, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert is an experience that can and should be enjoyed by anyone. Designed to inspire, the show boasts a full live orchestra as well as live record-scratching, in parallel with performances from the film score’s more unusual aspects: from whistling to pen-clicks and rhythmic keyboard tapping. Composer Daniel Pemberton himself graced the London event in a neon yellow bodysuit graffitied in bright pink spiders. He was briefly interviewed before the show, and spoke about how he wanted to deliberately infuse the Spider-Verse score with real textural elements from Hip Hop and RnB, like the score’s distinctive record-scratching.

When the film itself began, it felt like greeting an old friend. Right up until the orchestra kicked in with Only One Spider-Man, soaring to a bombastic, triumphant crescendo that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. Right from the get-go, we in the audience were made to understand that this was going to be a very different experience to just watching the movie. It was going to be even better. DJ Blakey himself was there for the live record-scratching, and there was something almost surreal about seeing turntables set up next to a violin section, given the same amount of respect on stage and, if anything, even more weight in the score.

Into the Spider-Verse is such a visual feast, with an existing soundtrack of brilliant records, that I personally had neglected to realise just how much the score contributes to the vivid atmosphere of the movie. Live in Concert changed that. Having the orchestra and turntables there to remind us of every moment of tension, grief, and courage in the film was viscerally powerful, lending an almost physical element to the hyper-saturated emotional surges of a film that has become so rapidly beloved of audiences around the world. Whether it’s the drums booming to a heart-racing crescendo as Doc Ock (Liv) chases down Miles, Gwen and Peter B. Parker, or the strings murmuring under tender moments between Miles and his family, there’s a lot to be said for being able to actually feel those moments in the air around you.

It’s also just a really innovative score, which again, was not something I personally realised until I saw Daniel Pemberton being conducted to click a ballpoint pen in time with Kingpin on the screen, under a conductor’s baton. With a series of colour co-ordinated lights and an ensemble who are clearly having fun, Into the Spider-Verse: Live in Concert is, first and foremost, just a really great night out – full of the laughs, tears and cheers of the original movie. The audience are encouraged to be raucous, to react and interact in the way you don’t often get to do when an orchestra is involved. Being able to whoop at the top of my lungs with hundreds of other people when Miles finally rises was an indescribable feeling, and I cannot recommend it highly enough, whether or not you’ve seen the film already.

But the evening’s more than that. Pemberton came on stage at the end to give a quick aside to the audience. He explained that he was disinterested in music as a child, compelled to take violin lessons by his parents. It wasn’t until he heard some really interesting synth music that he became inspired. Pemberton hopes that young people attending the event will see the orchestra, the turntables, the ballpoint pen and the keyboard, and become inspired by what music can be, what art can be, and what they can do with it.

Verdict: This isn’t just a rehashing of a brilliant movie. It’s an experience that is designed to inspire you. For me, at least, it was  a triumphant success. 10/10

Ella Watts

 

Into the Spider-Verse: Live in Concert has two remaining dates – on Tuesday 31st October in Cardiff at St David’s Hall, and Wednesday 1st November in Bath at Bath Forum. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.