Playing Up 12 - Review - Northern Stage

Playing Up 12

Northern Stage 
Friday 14th February 2020

Playing up is a regular Theatre showcase of smaller plays hosted by northern stage. This as the name suggests is the 12th in the series. Set up by graduates of the live theatre writing course of 2013. There are six short plays in this showcase with various different writers, directors and performers flexing their muscles.

Before any action we get treated to Colin Cuthbert's MCing skills, which revolve around old dad jokes based on what ever play is next. Charming and a so bad it’s good introduction to the night ahead. 

We start the first half off with a comedy called A Bout A Round, written by Debra Fisher and directed by James Barton. Set as Live from the rose and crown pub in Newcastle, with commentary on the banter led one up championship finals. The reigning champion is the resident barmaid (Lisa Powell) and rivalled by the challenger punter Billy (Steve Blackshaw). Commentators Derek (Porle Miller) and John (Peter Dawson) discuss the one up man ship and tactics of the two as they go backwards and forwards in battle. 

The scene is set with a realistic looking bar and a commentary area. It’s quite an interesting concept and has good humour in places. Enjoyable watch.

Next up we have Excuse Me written by Rowena Gray and directed by Sarah Seymour. Interesting premise here, we effectively have a white female social justice warrior out in the field ready to help the downtrodden and minorities turn the tables on the crime stereotypes they face. THIS IS WOKE, very interesting concept executed well by the cast of woman (Sarah Oakland), man (Rizwan Khan) and policeman (Steve Palace).

The last play before the break is Singular Vision written by Lewis Cuthbert, directed by Craig Fairbairn. Picture the scene we are in the last video shop in the UK. With the invent of streaming and DVDs the video shop is on it’s last legs. The staff tom (Stuart Laidler), Ryan (Pete McAndrew) and Peter (Joe Metcalfe) are tasked with somehow bringing in new customers in a somewhat hopeless style. This is mostly played for laughs , with the occasional moment of real solid drama. Good solid effort, my only problem was it was very hard to pinpoint the date , with no mention of blu-ray and the 90s feeling pre dating the fall of video and the rise of DVDs.

We have a break and up next is Where the Butterflies Dance, our first drama focussed play of the night. It’s very clear for the first moments this is not a happy place. Susan (Ruby Shrimpton) and her partner John (Ben Storey) are at odds to put it mildly. It appears Susan has been trapped in what appears to be a loveless abusive relationship. The acting is very powerful here and you really feel for Susan. John is very convincing as an abusive husband, you in no way emphasise with his attitude. Claire (Susan French) comes to visit will she realise what is going on before it’s too late? Watch and find out. Very compelling.

Coffee Morning is up next by Mary Pickin and directed by Brian Green. Two old friends get together in a coffee shop. Barbara (Karen Elliott) and Claire (Gillian Asherley) are too lovely chatty friends with amusing banter. We start off with some amusing mime work and the odd occasional slapstick moment. This is effectively a fly on the wall eavesdrop on two friends gossiping. It’s amusing and short, but not much really happens, more of a sketch.

Finally we round off with Anxious Annie by Elle Douglas and directed by Catriona Burnett.

This is the tale of Annie (Eleanor Beck) and her battle with anxiety. This is a really interesting piece, which moves between various scenes highlighting Annie's plight and giving the audience a real insight into what it is like for a woman like Annie dealing with her intrusive thoughts and dwelling on her actions and others around her. 

There is a brilliant scene where Anthony Broderick, who plays a variety of roles, plays an annoying cbt worker who delivers his material with all the feeling of Maggie Thatcher talking to a coal miner. I loved this scene as a service user myself as it highlights the futility of most services, where it’s more about paying lip service than actually helping anyone effectively. 

This was a nice way to round off the showcase. It has another showing tonight if you are reading this on the 15th February 2020. 

Producers : Lewis Cuthbert, John Harrison, R.G Parker 

Compere : Colin Cuthbert
Technician : Sophie Teasdale
Contact details 
email : playing_up@outlook.com 
Twitter : @playingup_tc
Facebook : @playinguptc
Insta : @playingup_tc

Next shows Friday and Saturday 17th and 18th July.

Frank Cromartie Murphy