Award-Winning Actor • Playwright • Lyricist

Gerel
Falconer

The Rapperturg

Telling stories through bars. Fusing theatre with Hip-Hop, Grime, UK Drill & Dancehall.

★ OFFIE Winner 2026★ BBTA Winner 2023★ Stage Debut Nominee
★★★★★
"An exciting new voice in UK theatre"
— All That Dazzles

Perform

One-man shows, gig theatre, and ensemble work at the UK's leading venues. Creator and performer of Tones: A Hip-Hop Opera.

See the work →

Write

Published playwright. Rapperturgy, lyrics and book for new musicals fusing hip-hop with theatre. From Barbican to Edinburgh Fringe.

See the work →

Teach & Inspire

School workshops, university lectures, corporate keynotes, and private LAMDA tuition. Engaging students through rhythm and rhyme.

View workshops →
Performed At
Barbican • Brixton House • Bristol Old Vic • Roundhouse • The Lowry
Edinburgh Fringe • Norwich Theatre • Belgrade Theatre • SICK Festival
The Rapperturg
"Our work is a hoist, to raise the voice of the disadvantaged whose opinions only seem to be heard when they're chanted."

Gerel Falconer — aka G, aka The Rapperturg — is an award-winning actor, playwright, and lyricist from Northwest London. He specialises in fusing theatre with UK Hip-Hop, Grime, UK Drill, Jamaican Dancehall, Reggae and spoken word poetry. This unique style of storytelling through bars earned him the title of Rapperturg.

Gerel trained at East 15 Acting School, where he received a BA (Hons) in Acting and won the 2012 Lilian Bayliss Award. He is a founding member of HighRise Theatre (now HighRise Entertainment) — the acclaimed theatre collective whose work has been featured in GQ, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Evening Standard.

He is the creator and performer of Tones: A Hip-Hop Opera — a one-man show that has earned five-star reviews across the board and won the OFFIE Award for Sound & Music (2026). The show has toured nationally to Brixton House, Edinburgh Fringe, Bristol Old Vic, The Lowry, Norwich Theatre, and many more.

Gerel is the winner of the Black British Theatre Award for Book & Lyrics (2023), presented at The National Theatre, and was nominated for the Stage Debut Awards (2023) as Best Composer/Lyricist/Book Writer for his work as Lyricist & Rapperturg on the multi-award-winning Alice in Wonderland at Brixton House (a Poltergeist Theatre production, published by Samuel French).

As Co-Artistic Director of Wound Up Theatre, Gerel is committed to amplifying voices from communities that are too often unheard. Beyond the stage, he is a registered LAMDA teacher, a workshop facilitator who has brought storytelling-through-rap into schools across the UK, and a published playwright — Tones is published by Methuen Drama (Bloomsbury).

Work
Writing & Rapperturgy
PUBLISHED — METHUEN DRAMA

Tones: A Hip-Hop Opera

Writer & Performer — Wound Up Theatre
Brixton House, Edinburgh Fringe, Bristol Old Vic, The Lowry, Norwich Theatre, Belgrade Coventry, ARC Stockton, SICK Festival & more

A one-man show told almost entirely through rapping. Tones follows Jerome — navigating racism, classism, colourism, and the hazards of growing up. What happens if you're not Black enough for the ends, but too Black for the rest of the world?

★ OFFIE Winner 2026 — Sound & Music★ BBTA Winner 2023 — Book & Lyrics
★★★★★ "Succeeds on every level" — All That Dazzles
Find out more ▾
MULTI-AWARD WINNING — PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL FRENCH

Alice in Wonderland

Lyricist & Rapperturg — Poltergeist Theatre / Brixton House
Brixton House (2022 & 2024 seasons)

A razor-sharp, rap-infused reimagining of Lewis Carroll's classic, set on the London Underground. Gerel wrote all lyrics and raps for this multi-award-winning Christmas production.

★ BBTA — Book & Lyrics★ BBTA — Theatre Design★ OFFIE — Best Newcomer (Nkhanise Phiri)★ OFFIE — Best Ensemble★ Stage Debut Nominee
★★★★★ "Hamiltonesque raps from lyricist and rapperturg Gerel Falconer" — Broadway World
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IN DEVELOPMENT

Black Power Desk

Rapperturgy & Lyrics — Brixton House
Currently being redeveloped. Cast album recording forthcoming.

1970s London. Two sisters divided by grief and radical politics. Lead writer Urielle Klein-Mekongo, with Rapperturgy & Lyrics by Gerel Falconer and music by Renell Shaw. Gerel is a key member of the songwriting team shaping the show's future development.

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UPCOMING — RETURNING (DATE TBC)

The UK Drill Project

Collaborator & Songwriter — HighRise Entertainment
Barbican (Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award Winner)

Wrote and performed songs including The Report and Bars & Railings, and contributed verses to No Comment, Where's Your Head At and Lulu.

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Lil.Miss.Lady

Collaborator & Songwriter — HighRise Theatre / HighTide
Roundhouse, Latitude Festival (2018) • Barbican, UK Tour (2025)

Heavily involved in the R&D stage, drawing on lived experience in the Grime scene to help build the show's timeline. Wrote on the Days Of The Week Riddim.

★★★★ "Pay close attention to HighRise, they are the future that theatre deserves" — Exeunt Magazine
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Merryville

Co-Writer — HighRise Theatre
Camden People's Theatre, Latitude Festival

A grime concept-concert set in dystopian 2020 London. The second in a trilogy of two-handed urban musicals by Gerel Falconer and Dominic Garfield.

★★★★ "An articulate, amusing and angry political rant through the medium of grime" — The Stage
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Penny Lane

Co-Writer — HighRise Theatre
The Yard Theatre, Hackney Wick

A Hip Hop-era (concept concert) with a live DJ. Set in the form of a murder trial with flashbacks, Penny Lane tells the story of a turbulent relationship between two brothers. The first in a trilogy of two-handed urban musicals by Gerel Falconer and Dominic Garfield.

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Acting

Tones: A Hip-Hop Opera

Performer — Wound Up Theatre
National tour — Brixton House, Edinburgh Fringe, Bristol Old Vic, The Lowry & more

Solo performer. One hour of continuous rapping, embodying multiple characters across Jerome's life story.

IN DEVELOPMENT

Black Power Desk

Actor (Carlton) — Brixton House
Currently being redeveloped. Cast album recording forthcoming.
UPCOMING — RETURNING (DATE TBC)

The UK Drill Project

Actor — PC Bars, Yannis, Kick Back — HighRise Entertainment
Barbican (Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award Winner)

Challenging myths about UK Drill music and its links to youth violence.

Find out more ▾
Watch the trailerYouTube →Barbican Digital Programmebarbican.org.uk →Review — The Reviews Hubthereviewshub.com →

Featured in GQ, The Guardian, New York Times, Reuters, London Live & The Evening Standard.

Lil.Miss.Lady

Actor (DJ Rat) — HighRise Theatre / HighTide
Roundhouse, Latitude Festival (2018)

Merryville

Performer (Dustin Roads) — HighRise Theatre
Camden People's Theatre, Latitude Festival

Penny Lane

Actor — HighRise Theatre
The Yard Theatre, Hackney Wick

The Concrete Jungle Book

Actor — HighRise Theatre
Artsdepot, Edinburgh Fringe (2017)

HighRise's acclaimed hip-hop musical catapulting Kipling's classic into inner-city Britain — described by the New York Times as "swapping bare necessities for harsh realities."

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Messiah

Actor — HighRise Theatre
Stratford Circus, Streatham Space, Chapter Arts Cardiff, Bernie Grant Arts Centre
G-R3AL R3AL-G → Gerel Falconer

Before the stage, there was the mic. I started out making music under the name G-R3AL R3AL-G — rooted in the same Hip-Hop, Grime, UK Garage, UK Drill, Dancehall and Reggae that now fuels my theatre work. The music never stopped — it just found a bigger stage. I now create and release under my own name, Gerel Falconer.

Videos
Watch on YouTube

Tones: A Hip-Hop Opera — Trailer

Production trailer for the OFFIE Award-winning one-man show.

Watch on YouTube

The UK Drill Project — Trailer

HighRise Entertainment at the Barbican.

Interviews & Discussions
Watch on YouTube

Rapperturgy — Interview 1

Watch on YouTube

Rapperturgy — Interview 2

Watch on YouTube

Rapperturgy — Interview 3

Soundtracks

The UK Drill Project — Soundtrack

Including The Report and Bars & Railings (written & performed by Gerel Falconer)

Listen on SpotifySpotify →

Merryville — Soundtrack

Co-written & performed by Gerel Falconer and Dominic Garfield

Listen on SpotifySpotify →Watch — Video 1YouTube →Watch — Video 2YouTube →
Original Music

Tonal Shift EP

A collection of songs inspired by Tones: A Hip-Hop Opera

Listen on BandcampBandcamp →
Rapperturgy — Storytelling Through Song

Rapperturgy Collection

Storytelling through song — the art of Rapperturgy in action

Listen on SoundCloudSoundCloud →
Writing Portfolio — Genre Demos

Hip-Hop / Rap

Demo tracks showcasing lyrical storytelling in the hip-hop tradition

Listen on SoundCloudSoundCloud →

Grime

High-energy grime writing rooted in the UK underground scene

Listen on SoundCloudSoundCloud →

UK Drill

Drill writing demonstrating versatility across contemporary UK sounds

Listen on SoundCloudSoundCloud →
Children's Work — In Development

The Bearcrow & Dinner With Pippa

Children's stories in development — available as audio demos

Listen on SoundCloudSoundCloud →

More music coming soon. Follow @gerelfalconer for updates.

Bring The Rapperturg to Your Classroom

Interactive sessions that use hip-hop, grime, spoken word and storytelling to engage, educate and inspire. DBS-checked. Registered LAMDA teacher. Trained actor (East 15 Acting School). Founding member of HighRise Entertainment.

Workshop

Storytelling Through Rap

KS3–KS5 • Cross-curricular: History, English, Drama, PSHE
Full day or half day • From £200 (half day) / £350 (full day)

Inspired by Hamilton, students write and perform original songs about historical events. Develops literacy, creativity, confidence and public speaking.

Workshop

Slam Poetry Masterclass

KS3–KS5 & Adult • English, Drama, PSHE
Half day • From £200

An immersive session in spoken word poetry — from finding your voice to performing with power, culminating in a mini slam competition.

Keynote / Lecture

Diversity & Inclusivity in the Arts

Corporate, University, Conference • CPD applicable
1–3 hours • From £200 (1hr) / £500 (3×1hr programme)

A provocative, engaging keynote drawing on lived experience navigating theatre, hip-hop culture, class, race and identity. Perfect for Black History Month, arts conferences and corporate D&I programmes.

Private Tuition — LAMDA Registry Teacher

LAMDA Exam Preparation

Children & Teenagers (ages 7–18) • Acting & Verse/Poetry • Online
UK late afternoons & evenings • Ideal for students in UK, USA, Canada & Australia

Qualified LAMDA teacher on the official LAMDA Teacher Registry, offering Acting (Grade 3–PCert LAM) and Verse & Poetry (Grade 3+) online. As a professional actor, published playwright, and award-winning lyricist, every lesson combines rigorous exam preparation with genuine creative training. Students don't just pass exams — they find their voice.

Junior School (ages 7–11) — £22.50 / 30 min

Lower Senior (ages 11–14) — £37.50 / 45 min

Upper Senior (ages 14–18) — £45 / 60 min

Free 15-minute introductory call • Lessons booked in blocks of 4 • Materials & exam guidance included

Ready to Book?

Bespoke packages available. State school rates on request.

Press & Reviews
Featured In
GQ • The Guardian • New York Times • The Stage • Evening Standard • Reuters • London Live
★★★★★
"Succeeds on every level"
— All That Dazzles
★★★★★
"Falconer's lyrics are sublime"
— North West End UK
★★★★★
"This show will blow you away from the very first second"
— Seven Star Life
★★★★★
"I've never been fully invested in a show after the first three minutes, but that's exactly what happened with Tones"
— Afridiziak
★★★★★
"Hamiltonesque raps from lyricist and rapperturg Gerel Falconer"
— Broadway World
★★★★★
"Extremely impressive and awfully catchy rap lyrics"
— Time & Leisure
★★★★
"An articulate, amusing and angry political rant through the medium of grime"
— The Stage (Merryville)
★★★★
"Pay close attention to HighRise, they are the future that theatre deserves"
— Exeunt Magazine (Lil.Miss.Lady)
Voice Magazine — Interviewvoicemag.uk → NARC Magazine — Tonesnarcmagazine.com → Barbican — UK Drill Digital Programmebarbican.org.uk → All That Dazzles — ★★★★★ Tonesallthatdazzles.co.uk → OFFIE Awards 2026 — Winnersfairypoweredproductions.com →
Book Me

Workshops & Speaking

Email
Social@gerelfalconer (Instagram)

Acting Enquiries

AgentECA Agency

Literary & Writing

AgentThe Haworth Agency

LAMDA Tuition

Ages7–18 (Junior, Lower Senior, Upper Senior)
SubjectsActing (Grade 3–PCert LAM) • Verse & Poetry (Grade 3+)
ScheduleUK late afternoons & evenings (online via Zoom)
RatesFrom £22.50 (30 min) to £45 (60 min) by age group
Contact or DM @gerelfalconer

Free 15-minute introductory call available • LAMDA Teacher Registry

Let's Work Together

Whether it's a school workshop, a keynote, LAMDA tuition, or a creative collaboration — I'd love to hear from you.