Review - Not From Concentrate - People's Theatre

Not From Concentrate 

People's Theatre 

June 5th, 2023

Written by PW Sowerby

Winner of The People's Play Award

What can I say about Not From Concentrate? In terms of plot, not a lot. Don't get me wrong, it has a great plot, but I can't tell you much about it without giving the whole thing away. Not From Concentrate is one of those reviewer's nightmare plays; full of all kinds of interesting stuff that I want to tell everyone about, but can't. 

I can tell you that it is a brand new play, that it won the People's Play Award and that it is incredibly funny. Dark, for sure, but funny. 

I can also tell you that it centres around a playwright who needs to finish his current play but who is struggling to come up with anything even half decent. He throws ideas out to test the waters, but they all end rather tragically. His manager and agent throw ideas out to encourage him, and his actors throw their hearts and souls into performing the paltry pieces he has managed to pull together. None of it really helps, and he is not very grateful, or gracious about it. In actual fact Benjamin is a bit obnoxious. As is his sister, Lucy, and his one time best friend, Will. The only likable characters are the actors and, maybe Benjamin's assistant Kerry, and manager Sam -though as things turn out, that could be debatable, they at least have his best interests at heart. 

Act One reveals the characters for the self-centred, self-serving egotists that they are, lays down just enough background for the audience to understand them. Then in Act Two everything goes a bit Pete Tong, as they say. And that is as much as I can tell you, because otherwise it would spoil the surprise.  

Sowerby's writing is tight. His observations of people are both wry and withering. (He claims that the play is autobiographical up to a point - I hope if he has a sister, she has a sense of humour). 

Not From Concentrate is very funny, a bit sweary, and very dark. It will make you laugh out loud and gasp in horror. You will see exactly where the play is leading in Act Two, and you will hope that it doesn't go there! 

There might be a happy ending - it depends on how you look at things.

And well, if you want to know more than that, you'll just have to come and see it for yourself. 

Tickets can be booked online at www.peoplestheatre.co.uk or by phoning the box office on 0191 2655020. It runs until Saturday 10th June, don't miss out! 

*Images by Paul Hood

Denise Sparrowhawk