THIS show celebrates the bicentenary of Haiti with a mixture of music, song and video.

It is the product of many hearts and minds, including directors Brett Bailey and Geraldine Connor, but it's Richard Morse's pounding music and songs from his band RAM that drive the evening along.

The production is stronger on spectacle and sound than narrative, which takes the audience through Haiti's history using a cast of 16 hard-working musicians, dancers and singers.

At the centre of the piece is voodoo, recently given status as the country's official religion.

Captions and footage on the video wall put the piece in historical perspective, as a series of eye-boggling visuals and mind-blowing musical sessions push the story forward in spectacular set pieces that involve clever animation, colourful costumes and several moments of pure theatre.

Vodou Nation is quite unlike anything else you've ever seen, or are likely to see in the near future. If you just let yourself be carried along by the sights and sounds, you'll have a good time.

* Runs until June 26, then at York Theatre Royal from July 20-24 and Newcastle Theatre Royal from August 10-14.

Published: 15/06/2004