Spark Plug - Review - Live Theatre

Spark Plug 

Live Theatre

14th March 2019 

David Judge is one talented person, the writer and performer tells his story without really focusing on himself.

The stage is set up like a garage with a climbing frame car which certainly creates a centrepiece to the play.

Based in and around Manchester the play focuses on the relationship between David and his step dad (Dave) who is white, working class.

Dave is not seen yet you seem to have a picture of what he is like by the end.
We hear about David's Mum, Joanne who is also white.
And we hear about Dave's Real Dad (Ainsley) who is Black, making David Half Cast which in Manchester would probably be a great disadvantage. 

His situation is then made worse when his mother starts to date women!

Set in the early 90s it asks some great questions like - is blood thicker than heart? 

Having a strong relationship with my Dad (biologically related to me) and also having a step father who I've not had the strongest relationship with, I feel this show illustrates just how different as people we can be. 

With only one man on stage at all times this show manages to be packed with action and excitement - and even working windscreen wipers! This play allows you to go on a journey with Dave through David. It is 70 minutes of my life that, if I could, I would definitely repeat! 

The team behind the scenes deserve much praise, as you can't create anything this good on your own and the technical staff, sound and lighting, and direction all contribute to the success of the finished production. 

Directed by Hannah Tyrrell - Porter

Designed by Katie Scott 
With Sound by Richard Owen and Lighting by Chris James and Many Many More.

Another show not to be missed - it runs until Saturday 16th of March.

Reuben (Rubes) Hiles

Picture credit: Live Theatre/Decoy Media

Suicide Notes -review- Northern Stage

Suicide Notes by Christopher Brett Bailey 
Northern Stage
2nd October 2018

Suicide Notes isn’t as depressive as it sounds, though to say it’s not depressive in one sense would be inaccurate. Christopher was brought up in the USA and Canada, but moved to the UK in his teen years, so his accent is undeniably American. He starts the show off sat at a desk, with an audio recording device, pretty much coughing at the entire audience for what seems like about five minutes - an odd introduction , but it tells you a lot about his character and humour. I had a similar start to my comedy sets when I performed comedy, “my names DR Carlos, I’m not a real doctor, but I do like to tell people what’s wrong with them.” Your intro should set up the rest of the show and (unlike most of my stand up gigs) it only got funnier from there on.

The start of this spoken word show reminded me of the many open mic comedy gigs I’ve been to. Lots of one liner poems, some funny, some insightful, some both. He’s an intriguing character, somewhat majestical. He has all the snear of a 70s punk, which is lucky , because he’s in a punk band himself. Look it up, it’s very long. He reminds me of a cross between Patti Smith of 70s punk fame and Zach De La Roche from rock band Rage Against the Machine. Every night is different as he reads from his latest spoken word book, Suicide Notes, the follow up to his last book This is How We Die. The book is supposed to be five hours long and this show was about a hundred minutes long.

There are interesting themes not just suicide, but a wide range of topics, there are some political bits, some life pondering moments and some existential questions I could certainly relate to. At one point he suggests that parents revealing in their child’s achievement's is the biological equivalent of smelling your own farts and that if you really want to make a difference take on someone else’s problem and adopt. My sentiments exactly, not quite sure the audience agreed with that, but look around you it’s clearly not a popular idea.

Some of his stories are kinda sadistic fables ingested with real elements, like the time he goes drinking with Adam off of the bible and that. It’s clear he has a wicked sense of humour and I certainty enjoyed his piece, However like a lot of poetry and spoken word it does tend to quite often wander into ranty and preachy territory. You can tell he likes to improvise and probably does a fair bit of automatic writing. Some of the longer spoken word bits do seem unedited and came across like a flow of conciousness. The guy has a great charisma though, you really want to know what he’s going to say next and, his one liners aside, you really don’t see what’s coming next.

If you enjoy poetry, comedy and spoken word, I suggest you check him out next time he tours, or catch his last date on this tour at the showroom in Chichester on the 18th October 2018.

Frank Cromartie Murphy

Pricks - Alphabetti Theatre - Review

Pricks by Jade Byrne

www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

Alphabetti Theatre

Thursday 14th June, 2018

I wasn't sure what to expect from this play, all I knew was its core subject was diabetes type one. None of that 'type two reversible with a balanced diet' nonsense, this was the real deal. Jade starts at the very beginning when she contracted a virus that caused her diabetes at just age 4.  She acts out various incidents between then and now which were affected by her diabetes, all acted with help from her Dennis the menace doll.

The story telling flows and is impressively acted. This show is very informative and covers many misconceptions people make about type one diabetes, such as it bankrupting the NHS, or it being a sexually transmitted disease. It's heartfelt throughout and also explores other people's stories involved with type one as well as her own.  There's a semi immersive aspect to the show which comes in at the end (you’ll have to catch the show to experience that).

The show clocks in just shy of an hour and can be seen in Darlington at Jabberwocky Market Sat 23 4.30pm. Also at Pleasance Courtyard at 2:15 throughout the Edinburgh Fringe in August

Frank Cromartie Murphy

The Restless State - Alphabetti Theatre - Review

The Restless State  

Alphabetti Theatre

17th April 2018

This one man show written by Danielle Pearson and performed by Jesse Fox spans three different time lines, from three different people from the past (1989), the present (2018) and the future 2052. The general theme that connected all the time periods was political change. From the end of the Berlin wall, the day after brexit and the future referendum on a one child policy. The stage is sparse, but effective and the one man show switches from monologues to what equates to an audio narration of what is happening. Sound is used often and effectively creates atmosphere when needed, including music, sound effects and sound bites.  

There’s an underlying sense of nostalgia even in the distant future. The locations switch from Berlin (1989), London (2018) and Rome (2052). In the past hope is prevalent, yet the further we get into the future the more bleak we get. Due to the switching and the pace of the piece it can be confusing in places, but all becomes clear at the end. The plot quality varies and is best paced in 1989. Overall this was a very entertaining and evocative hour long piece and it felt something quite different from what I’m used to. If you like something a bit different, I definitely recommend checking this out. 
It runs at Alphabetti until Friday 20th April.

Frank Cromartie Murphy