MARINA delivers an ethereal theatrical spectacle at the Hammersmith Apollo

Striding onto stage dressed in a sheer ultramarine dress, MARINA (aka Marina Diamandis) opened her first-ever show at Hammersmith’s Apollo last night to rip-roaring applause that practically shook the roof. It’s been a long three-year wait for the ever-loyal fans of this undisputed pop icon, with the latest album released in April this year. But in a performance that lived up to the star’s cult status, MARINA proved herself to be worth the wait.

With a decade’s worth of music to choose from, this setlist came in two halves. Named after the new album Love + Fear, the show delivered a perfect blend of fan-favourites and dynamic new material. Handmade Heaven was the perfect starter, made up of ethereal melodies and captivating choruses; the audience got what they came for in the very first song. Earlier hit Hollywood then followed, ironically just as relevant today as in 2010 with the lyrics, “I’m obsessed with the mess that’s America”. It’s an irresistible, catchy anthem that showcases the singer’s ability to traverse her old and new styles with ease and confidence.

With hits from her illustrious Electra Heart album such as Primadonna raising hands from the front to the back, followed by uplifting crowd-pleasers like Enjoy Your Life, it was clear that many of the fans came for the old MARINA – complete with the Diamonds. But they stayed for the softer beats and mature lyrics of new material that has grown alongside its audience.

The artist closed the first half of her performance with Teen Idle, which the crowd shouted back at her at every opportunity. As the performer reemerged in a bright green and black jumpsuit, we were welcomed into the second half: Fear.

Complete with a backdrop of moving images – from a launching rocket to a flurry of ants and winged insects – each rendition of these darker tracks was not a performance, but a theatrical spectacle. The quartet of dancers, who had mirrored the singer’s vivacity throughout, perceptibly narrated feelings of loss and confusion with hypnotising choreography during Emotional Machine, while the singer looked on from above.

MARINA did not just simply deliver an outstanding musical performance (albeit singing to a backing track) but from sitting behind a piano to dancing across the stage, she had the audience hooked at every moment and didn’t let go until the lights went out. 

Grace Walsh
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit MARINA’s website here.

Watch the video for Hollywood here: