Tosh Wanogho-Maud: Songs + Stories – Piano Smithfield

Tosh Wanogho-Maud: Songs + Stories – Piano Smithfield, London (also 4 December 2023).

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

During the second of three solo shows at Piano Smithfield, actor, singer and songwriter Tosh Wanogho-Maud confessed that he had been ‘terrified’ at the prospect of performing outside the comfort zone of a stage production (recent West End credits include The Drifters Girl and Ain’t Too Proud). Would anyone want to come? Would he have the confidence to face his fear, step outside a character, and be himself in front of an audience? He needn’t have worried…

The first show sold out in six minutes, and it wasn’t long before two extra dates followed suit. As for worrying about playing solo in this kind of intimate setting, Wanogho-Maud is an absolute natural.

The skill involved in presenting a one-person gig is constantly underestimated. An artist can be an incredible vocalist, but if they can’t relax and communicate with an audience that is up close and personal (in this case so near that you can smell the pizza they have ordered) or doesn’t know how to put together a balanced set of songs, they are going to struggle.

Fortunately, for the packed crowd at Piano Smithfield, Wanogho-Maud proved he is as talented a performer solo as he is on a bigger stage.

There was no slow build in this programme – a couple of low-key numbers to warm up the crowd. Instead, Wanogho-Maud blew us away from the get-go, kicking proceedings off with ‘Fake Your Way to the Top’ from Dreamgirls (the actor/singer made his mark as a West End leading man in the role of Jimmy Early back in 2018).

Wanogho-Maud’s work in musical theatre has always made an impression on me, but it truly felt like a privilege to have a front-row seat on this occasion. This was partly due to the performer’s breathtaking range, the heights of which can be both powerful and tender, while the spirited, edgy, soulful depth of his voice is nothing short of inspiring.

Some of the vocal acrobatics were technically off the chart, and it was great fun to relish those riffs, but at the heart of this extraordinary musicality was sensitivity and storytelling.

One of the reasons Wanogho-Maud created such a strong, emotional connection with the audience was that he was open and honest about his experiences, whether that be the highs of West End success or the lows of struggling to make the rent. While acknowledging his vulnerabilities, he described the strength he found in being creative.

Within a refreshingly varied setlist, fans of Dreamgirls, The Drifters Girl, Ain’t Too Proud and the recent Bat Boy concert were delighted to hear crowd-pleasing numbers like ‘My Girl’, ‘I Wish It Would Rain’, ‘Stand By Me’, ‘I’m Losing You’ and ‘A Joyful Noise’, although Wanogho-Maud wasn’t afraid of making them his own in the process.

“Is there anything Tosh can’t sing?” asked one observer, and I’m not sure there is. Just hear his delicate, stunning interpretations of Teddy Swims’ ‘Lose Control’ and Billie Eilish’s ‘What I Was I Made For’ or the zany, upbeat ‘Geek in the Pink’ (Jason Mraz).

Wanogho-Maud gave context to many of the songs, explaining why the music and lyrics meant something to him professionally and personally. That made the material so much more powerful. Indeed, two of the compositions that moved me the most were from a new musical the performer is writing with his partner, singer-songwriter Nick Gardner.

In ‘The Tide of Someday’ he touchingly sang of the relationship between a father and son, while ‘In My Dreams’ (beautifully accompanied on piano by Gardner) was a response to the murder of George Floyd and a wish for Black stories to be shared and heard (‘I hope you see it in their movements, not just the way they speak’).

Gardner created yet another highlight by performing his memorable original number ‘Hold Me Down’. The duo’s musical makes for an intriguing and exciting prospect.

Many of the emotions touched on in these compositions were extremely personal to the actor-singer and he spoke of how important it was for him to share these feelings with as wide an audience as possible. His musical message was one of hope and inclusivity.

Adding to the sophistication of an evening of first-class music were two excellent backing singers and an exceptionally fine band of musicians – the different combinations of piano/keyboards, drums and acoustic/electric guitar breathing life into some distinctive arrangements.

If you can leave a show having made a connection with a performer, knowing them a little better, have laughed and cried, heard music that made you want to dance, music that touched your heart and felt better about the world, then it’s a very special thing and Songs + Stories achieved all that and more.

Not only that but if the extremely versatile Wanogho-Maud isn’t asked to play larger concert settings in London very shortly – I can think of a few venues that regularly showcase musical theatre performers – I would be very surprised. While I will never forget the wonderful intimacy of this evening, a wider audience needs to witness this incredible talent. And a recording contract wouldn’t go amiss either.

Lisa Martland