REVIEW: It's The Economy, Stupid! at Newcastle Live Theatre

It's The Economy, Stupid!

Newcastle Live Theatre

Thursday 17 July 2025

A quality slice of fringe theatre appeared for one night only at Live Theatre. Spinning a true story about the survival of one family against a recession around economic theory and the political history since the fall of the Berlin Wall make for an enlightening experience. 

The "big lie" that we all accept about theatre is that the night that we attend is THE night - the one night that the show was told. The fact that stuff will happen 8 times a week doesn't matter - our night at the theatre was unique. The reason why I say this is that at the beginning Joe Sellman-Leva states that he is ill and his mind is muggy so the show might not go to plan. Indeed, it appears that that this is the case as he stops a few times, mid-monologue  to ask his co-presenter Dylan Howells what comes next. Now I don't know if that was part of the show - or Joe was actually ill and performing rather than cancelling - but the nature of theatre is it could be part of the show. Indeed - it did successfully break the fourth wall, getting the audience involved and empathising with the situation.  I've witnessed enough theatre that would build such a seario - but I think on this case the performer was ill.

The tale begins in 1989 when Joe was a few months old and a new world order was establishing itself. Prior to this utilities and state owned houses were sold off and not replaced, though the effects of that would not be felt for decades. A recession hits in the early 90s and the new wave of politicians take over stating that the Economy is what is important to the electorate. What makes this show involving is that the story is brought down to a human scale as it describes a family playing Monopoly whilst awaiting the bailiffs, despite having previously been a successful owners of a shop. That use of a human relationship to describe the impact of global economic theory makes the show relatable.

So whilst Joe tells the bulk of the story, Dylan moves the props. Most of the props are cardboard boxes - some of which need to be position carefully as they become projector screens. Other parts are a series of magical illusions. Stuff changes before us with a slight of hand creating a metaphor for the nature of the story and the levers that control us all.

I regularly say that good theatre gets you thinking and the fact that we were discussing the issues all of the way home pushes this show into that category. No solutions are offered, No judgement is stated. The circumstances, the raw facts are simply presented and the audience is given the space to reflect. The show will not start a revolution but lays down a path to suggest change is needed before we lose opportunity for another generation.

I wasn't disappointed, the show lived up to its billing and got me thinking - as a member of generation X - how the generations that followed got something of a short straw. I'm glad I had a chance to see the show...and it has inspired me to do some reading over the summer.

Review: Stephen Oliver

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