REVIEW: Grimm at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Grimm

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Until Thursday 30 October 2025

A play about the Grimsby fishing Industry during the middle of the second Cod War has landed in Tyneside this week. Detailing the lifestyle of the "three day millionaires", and the wives they left behind for three weeks at a time, the story highlights a 20th century battle that the UK lost and the reasons why the industry headed to oblivion. But more than that, it flags up the sacrifices made by both those on and off shore.

It is July 1973 and a trawler has landed in Grimsby and the crew are heading for The Ship Discotheque - the first and only such venue in Grimsby. The Beatles didn't get to these parts (as they were too busy playing in places like Hull) so the jukebox is loaded with classic rock and roll with a tiny bit of modern stuff like Bowie.

We are introduced to a barmaid Esther (Sophie Clay) who awaits her husband and father of four Paddy (Marc Graham) whilst the younger barmaid Ivy (Evangeline Henderson) is looking forward to her bloke Jim (Jake Cooke) returning from his first trip. They pile in with Roger (Chris Finn) who has yet to check in with his wife - who is out looking for him. Ensuring everyone is correctly dressed, with a tie, is Alan (Adam Perrott) who himself is expecting to go for his "ticket" (the assessment to become a skipper). The big question is: will Ivy accept her place to study English Literature in Manchester or will she stay put as her boyfriend expects?

I need to declare, as one of just 2 in the audience who were aware of the cod wars, that I was raised in Hull in walking distance of the fish dock. Lads down my street became "decky learners" (apprentices on the trawlers) and we had lads stay with us who were studying for their "ticket" at the Humberside College. Whilst I knew the terms that the cast used, I did wonder in the programme need a short glossary. Having said that a fair bit was explained as the cast broke the fourth wall. It was interesting to hear the Grimsby lads had similar superstitions to the Hull lads. My companion was the other who knew of the cod wars and she remembered taking time off school to ensure that the council did not repaint the front door green. Anyhow, I digress...

The lads off the trawlers arrived on shore with a full wage packet and just three days before their next trip out. Often they'd visit the tailors in order to look their best before hitting the bars. Before too long they'd be back on their boats, literally risking their lives in the rough unforgiving seas. But this is 1973 and the Icelandic navy is trying to enforce a 50 mile exclusion zone. This play makes no reference to the hassle off the Russians too, but I guess that'd be too much exposition. 

In Evangeline Henderson's script we get the juxtaposition between the young couple in the first flush of love versus the older couples that have strained relationships thanks to the demand of the lifestyle. The audience also get to see the friction between this happy band of fishermen. 

The play works because you care about the characters. You want them to do well but the alcohol flows. Special mention goes to Chris Finn who pulls off "drunk" in a spectacular way.  This is a kitchen sink drama that lifts the lid on a foodstuff that many take for granted and an industry that was neglected. 

The creatives behind the show are to be applauded for taking this show on tour away from the banks of the Humber - where it will find an easy audience - and it deserves to do well. The lived experience of a generation who are still with us is a part of our history - a history that needs to be told.  

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Isaac Johnson/Behind the Eyes

Tickets:

GRIMM is touring venues across the UK, reaching from Lincolnshire to Northumberland and South West Wales. The two-night run at the Alphabetti Theatre promises specific access provisions:

• Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle: Thursday 30 October 2025 (Audio Described)

Link: https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/grimm

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The Headscarf Revolutionaries: Lillian Bilocca and the Hull Triple-Trawler Disaster by  Brian W. Lavery 

Available from Waterstones: LINK

Preview: Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas? at Newcastle Live Theatre

Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas?

Newcastle Live Theatre

Tuesday 9 - Sunday 21 December 2025

Live Theatre's festive season takes an unexpected and delightfully quirky turn this year with the premiere of Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas?, a new family show that promises to answer one of life's most pressing questions: where exactly do those cheeky seabirds disappear to when the chips run out?

Writer and director Jack McNamara has crafted what sounds like a wonderfully imaginative alternative to traditional Christmas fare. Rather than the usual pantomime suspects, audiences will follow the adventures of Newcastle's beloved kittiwakes as they embark on a globe-trotting journey, meeting "outrageous friends" from around the world. The production even features an alien and a plastic bag among its cast of characters, suggesting the kind of inventive, off-kilter storytelling that Live Theatre does so well.

The show brings together two talented performers who'll bring this feathered tale to life. Shannon McLean, making her Live Theatre debut, is a Newcastle-born actor and theatre school owner whose credits include Blue Jean for BBC Films and productions at Webster's Theatre and Tron Theatre. She'll be joined by Live Theatre favourite Malcolm Shields, whose impressive CV spans stage and screen, from I, Daniel Blake to Outlander, and includes extensive choreography work that should add visual flair to the production.

Malcom Shields

What gives the show additional poignancy is its dedication to the Slender Billed Curlew, declared officially extinct in 2024. McNamara hints that this lost species might make a "spectral appearance," suggesting the production will blend its comedic adventure with something more thoughtful about conservation and loss.

Starting in "shivery Newcastle" before taking flight around the world, this promises to be a show that combines local charm with global storytelling, wrapped up in the kind of creative ambition that has made Live Theatre one of the country's most vital new writing venues for over fifty years.

Shannon McLean

Perfect for families looking for something a little different this festive season, Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas? might just answer the existential questions you didn't know you needed answering.

Tickets:

Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas? runs at Live Theatre from Tuesday 9 to Sunday 21 December 2025. For tickets and more information, visit www.live.org.uk

Preview: Top Hat at Sunderland Empire

 

Broadway Glamour Comes to Sunderland as TOP HAT Announces Star-Studded Tour Cast

Top Hat

Sunderland Empire 

Tuesday 18 – Saturday 22 November 2025

The Chichester Festival Theatre production of Irving Berlin's beloved musical Top Hat is set to bring vintage Hollywood glamour to Sunderland Empire this November, and the tour has just announced an exceptional cast that promises to make this one of the season's most dazzling theatrical events.

A Star Turn from Broadway

Leading the company as the debonair Jerry Travers is Phillip Attmore, making his highly anticipated UK debut in the role. Attmore is no stranger to acclaim – he's a winner of the prestigious Fred and Adele Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer for Shuffle Along and the Playbill Breakout Performance Award for On the 20th Century. One of Broadway's most exciting performers, his credits include Hello, Dolly!, Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood, and television's The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. His arrival on UK shores in a role that demands the kind of effortless charm and dancing prowess that made Fred Astaire a legend is nothing short of thrilling.

An Acclaimed Leading Lady

Joining Attmore is Amara Okereke as Dale Tremont, the beautiful model who captures Jerry's heart. Okereke won the 2018 Stage Debut Award for her portrayal of Cosette in Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre and has since established herself as one of British theatre's most exciting talents. Her recent credits include Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at London Coliseum, Oklahoma! at Chichester Festival Theatre, A Streetcar Named Desire at Sheffield Crucible, and Spring Awakening at the Almeida Theatre. She's also set to appear in the upcoming film The Choral, directed by Sir Nicholas Hytner.

Returning Favourites and New Additions

Sally Ann Triplett, who represented the UK twice in the Eurovision song contest, continues in the role of Madge Hardwick, bringing her considerable experience to the formidable society matron. Triplett has enjoyed a distinguished career including Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Gran in The Witches, and a WhatsOnStage Award-winning turn as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at the National Theatre. She also appeared in the original Broadway production Carrie as Sue Snell

James Hume takes on the role of Horace Hardwick, Jerry's hapless producer. A winner of the Toni Fell Competition and Hilda Deane Award for Outstanding Achievement, Hume's impressive credits include Kiss Me Kate at the Barbican, A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic, and The Phantom of the Opera in both the West End and on UK/Ireland tour.

Reprising their roles from the Chichester Festival Theatre production are James Clyde as Bates and Alex Gibson-Giorgio as Alberto Beddini. Clyde brings extensive Royal Shakespeare Company experience, having appeared in King Lear, Cymbeline, and numerous other productions, as well as playing Mr. Wormwood in Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre. Gibson-Giorgio's credits span Sinatra The Musical, Zorro The Musical, Rags, and the Mamma Mia! Australia Tour, plus screen appearances in Netflix's One Day and Apple TV+'s Time Bandits.

A Timeless Romance

Based on the classic 1935 film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Top Hat tells the sparkling story of Broadway star Jerry Travers who arrives in London to open a new show. When his tap dancing in a hotel suite disturbs the beauty sleep of model Dale Tremont in the room below, it's instant attraction – at least for Jerry. Instantly smitten, he vows to abandon his bachelor life to win her heart.

But the path of true love is never smooth, particularly when Dale mistakes Jerry for his married producer Horace, who's desperately trying to avoid the wrath of his formidable wife Madge. Add Dale's fiery Italian admirer Alberto, who's planning a trip to Venice to showcase his couture gowns, and you have all the ingredients for a deliciously complicated romantic comedy that fizzes with wit, misunderstandings, and spectacular song and dance numbers.

The Musical Equivalent of Vintage Champagne

The stage adaptation's original West End production won the 2013 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out, with critics hailing it as "the musical equivalent of the finest vintage champagne – effervescent, elegant and exhilarating."

Irving Berlin's irresistible score includes some of Hollywood's greatest songs: the immortal Cheek to Cheek, Let's Face the Music and Dance, Top Hat, White Tie and Tails, and Puttin' on the Ritz. These timeless classics are complemented by stunning choreography, lavish sets, and gorgeous costumes that capture the art deco elegance of the 1930s.

A Visionary Creative Team

This brand-new production is staged by acclaimed American director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall, a nine-time Tony nominee and three-time winner who made history as the first woman to have directed a play, directed a musical, and choreographed a musical on Broadway. She won Tony Awards for her choreography on Wonderful Town, The Pajama Game, and Anything Goes. Her most recent revival of Anything Goes – which played at London's Barbican and toured the UK – received nine Olivier Award nominations in 2022, with Marshall winning Best Choreographer.

The creative team includes Set Designer Peter McKintosh, Costume Designers Yvonne Milnes and Peter McKintosh, Musical Supervisor Gareth Valentine, Musical Director Stephen Ridley, Orchestrator & Arranger Chris Walker, Lighting Designer Tim Mitchell, and Sound Designer Paul Groothuis.

An Ensemble to Remember

The talented touring ensemble is completed by Lindsay Atherton, Rhiannon Bacchus, Jeremy Batt, Freddie Clements, Pedro Donoso, Bethan Downing, Autumn Draper, Tilly Ducker, Maddie Harper, Stuart Hickey, Laura Hills, Connor Hughes, George Lyons, David McIntosh, Jordan Oliver, Emily Ann Potter, Joe Press, Molly Rees Howe, Kirsty Sparks, and Toyan Thomas-Browne.

Why You Shouldn't Miss It

Top Hat represents everything that makes musical theatre magical: romance, comedy, spectacular dancing, unforgettable songs, and sheer theatrical glamour. With a Broadway star making his UK debut, an Olivier Award-winning director and choreographer, and a score packed with Irving Berlin's greatest hits, this production promises to be a heady romantic cocktail that's utterly irresistible.

Whether you're a fan of classic Hollywood musicals, Golden Age American songbook standards, or simply want an evening of pure theatrical escapism, Top Hat delivers glitz, glamour, and good old-fashioned entertainment. It's the perfect antidote to a chilly November evening – a chance to step back into an era of elegance, wit, and sophisticated romance where every problem can be solved with a perfectly executed tap routine and a swooning ballad.

Tickets:

Tickets: Available now at ATGTickets.com/Sunderland
A £3.95 transaction fee may apply to online bookings

More Information: tophat-musical.com

Social Media: @tophatmusical

REVIEW: Here & Now - the Steps Musical at Newcastle Theatre Royal

Here & Now - the Steps Musical

Newcastle Theatre Royal 

Until Sunday 2 November 2025.

Newcastle's Theatre Royal becomes the unlikely setting for supermarket shenanigans this week as the pop phenomenon Steps makes their theatrical debut with Here & Now, a jukebox musical built around the group's catalogue of irresistible pop anthems. 

This production marks a bold leap for the band who dominated the charts in the late 1990s and early 2000s with their infectious blend of Euro-pop and precision choreography. Written by Shaun Kitchener with original story contributions from Steps members themselves, the show transforms twenty-five years of pop hits – from 5, 6, 7, 8 to Tragedy – into a surprisingly heartfelt story about friendship, second chances, and finding happiness when life doesn't go according to plan.

Set against the fluorescent-lit aisles of seaside supermarket Better Best Bargains, the musical follows Caz (Rebecca Lock), whose seemingly perfect life implodes just as she approaches her 50th birthday. Having recently been approved to adopt a child with her husband Gareth (Chris Grahamson), Caz challenges her colleagues to pursue their own happy endings during what she dubs their "Summer of Love": the perpetually people-pleasing Vel (Jacqui Dubois) must leave her loveless relationship, shy Neeta (Rosie Singha) needs to confess her feelings to workplace crush Ben (Ben Darcy), and serial-dater Robbie (Blake Patrick Anderson) must stop self-sabotaging potential romances. 

But when Gareth abruptly ends their marriage, destroying both Caz's relationship and her adoption dreams, she finds herself having to follow her own advice. As the four friends navigate romantic upheaval and workplace drama – complicated by meddling from store manager Patricia (Finty Williams) and mysterious newcomer Max (Edward Baker-Duly) – their Summer of Love threatens to become something far more tragic, with the entire store's future hanging in the balance.

With its bright pink and blue colour scheme and a story that requires the audience to suspend belief for large chunks - especially if you've every worked in a shop - Here and Now brought back memories from the beginning of the Theatre Guide when we saw a production of Happy Days back in 2014. Whilst that production was about the closure of a diner, it followed a similar pattern and subsequent redemption.

This is a really lively, camp and energetic musical with many feel good moments. There are dark moments in there like relationship breakdown, the loss of homes and employment but they don't really land as you expect there to be a happy ending within a couple of songs. The one emotional section that really does land - and comes complete with one of 2 singing performance from Rebecca Lock that were the highlight  of the show - was the story arc around child loss. It really hit home.

Talking of music - a live band accompany the performance under musical director Georgia Rawlins. The singing is a mixed bag. There were superb performances, especially when the tempo was slowed down, from Jacqui Dubois and Rebecca Lock. Their skills were also noticeable in the inevitable mega-mix at the end. 

The lads though were much better at dancing, including jumping onto tables and skips mid-song, than the vocal abilities.  It cannot be easy to be expected to do a very physical dance routine as you're knocking out a big musical number. In terms of movement, the dancing from the ensemble had real energy and the cast worked hard during the two hours to keep the show lively.

A nice twist from the normal was to include a drag queen Jem (River Medway) out of drag and just doing their normal shopping at the start rather than in full costume. Having said that there was star quality whenever they were on stage.

The show is a bright, bold statement. Here and Now has, in my opinion, a feel of the campier end of Eurovision about it - and there is a big market for a vibrant celebration of Steps. It's The Way You Make Me Feel about pop nostalgia, a Chain Reaction of bright shiny outfits, synchronized dance moves, and unabashed joy that transports audiences to Better times. Judging by the responses at the curtain calls, fans of Steps will Love the show and enjoy the music behind more innocent times - One for Sorrow if you miss it, because this is pure Heartbeat-racing entertainment that proves What the Future Holds for jukebox musicals might just be a Deeper Shade of Blue eyeshadow and a commitment to never taking yourself too seriously.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Pamela Raith

Tickets:

Tickets for Here & Now at Newcastle Theatre Royal are available at theatreroyal.co.uk or via the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.

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Preview: It Walks Around the House at Night at Arc, Stockton On Tees

ThickSkin presents

It Walks Around the House at Night

Arc, Stockton On Tees

Wednesday 18 – Thursday 19 February 2026

Award-winning Wigan-based theatre company ThickSkin brings Tim Foley's atmospheric ghost story It Walks Around The House At Night to The Arc in Stockton-on-Tees this February, promising audiences an evening of theatrical horror laced with dark humour and genuine scares.

The production marks another collaboration between ThickSkin and Manchester playwright Tim Foley, whose previous work with the company on Driftwood proved a considerable success. Foley, a Bruntwood Prize winner whose credits include Electric Rosary at the Royal Exchange Theatre and work on Doctor Who audio productions for Big Finish, has crafted a tale that centres on Joe, an out-of-work actor in desperate financial straits. When a rich, handsome stranger makes an unusual offer during Joe's bar shift, it seems like the answer to his problems: a well-paid gig playing a ghost at an old countryside manor. What begins as an expectation of delivering cheap thrills to paying guests soon transforms into something far more sinister as Joe discovers genuine terrors haunting the grounds after dark.

George Naylor takes on the role of Joe, bringing experience from productions including Second Best at Riverside Studios, the West End and touring production of The Mousetrap, and Room 13 at The Barn Theatre. He is joined by Oliver Baines as The Dancer, whose recent work includes The House Party for Chichester Festival Theatre and Headlong, Frantic Assembly's touring production of Othello, and I Like The Way You Move at Theatre Peckham.

The production is directed by ThickSkin's Artistic Director Neil Bettles, whose work spans How Not To Drown, Disney's Bedknobs & Broomsticks on its UK and Ireland tour, and productions with Frantic Assembly. Bettles describes the piece as a thrilling and complex exploration of power and manipulation designed to unsettle even the most hardened audience members. The technical team features impressive theatrical pedigree, with sound design by Tony Award winner Pete Malkin, whose portfolio includes Othello at the National Theatre and Complicité's acclaimed The Encounter, and lighting design by Olivier Award winner Joshua Pharo, known for Wolf Witch Giant Fairy at the Royal Opera House and Hot Wing King at the National Theatre.

ThickSkin has established itself since 2010 as a company recognised nationally for championing exceptional talent in the North West and for creating inventive touring productions that blend new writing, movement and design. Founded by Neil Bettles and Laura Mallows, who continue to lead the organisation from their base at The Engine Room in Wigan, the company has built a reputation for work that presents extraordinary stories in unexpected ways, from traditional stage productions to virtual reality experiences and immersive audio plays.

Running 80 minutes without an interval, It Walks Around The House At Night is recommended for audiences aged 14 and above, with content warnings for loud and sudden noises, haze, flashing lights, occasional strong language, horror imagery and the promised jump scares that pepper this contemporary ghost story.

Tickets:

https://arconline.co.uk/whats-on/it-walks-around-the-house-at-night/ 

Pay What You Decide

Ages 14+ (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult)

Content warning: Loud and sudden noises, haze, flashing lights, occasional strong language, horror imagery and jump scares.

Previw: GRIMM at Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Step Aboard the Ship Disco

GRIMM Sails into Newcastle

GRIMM

Newcastle Alphabetti Theatre

Wednesday 29 - Thursday 30 October 2025

The iconic, immersive sell-out show, GRIMM, is set to anchor in the North East this autumn as part of its wider tour, offering audiences a raw, raucous, and deeply moving piece of gig-theatre. Rooted firmly in Grimsby’s vital fishing heritage, this celebrated production will take over the Alphabetti Theatre in Newcastle for two special nights, including performances tailored for greater accessibility.

Audiences are invited to step into the infamous Ship Disco, where a pint awaits with their name on it. GRIMM vividly captures a specific moment in time: a Landing Day, set seven years after the triple trawler tragedy, eleven years before the second Cod War, and fifteen years before the fishing industry faced total collapse. With the threat of war looming, the fishermen return to the women and families they left behind at shore, carrying a fat wage packet and only three days in which to spend it.

The creation of Artistic Producer, Writer, and Performer Evangeline Henderson (who also plays the role of Ivy), GRIMM is built upon the true stories passed down through her family for generations. Henderson’s writing provides a powerful voice for a community that has been neglected by society and government for years.

Commenting on her inspiration, Evangeline Henderson states: “My pops was a fisherman from the ages of 15 until 60. I grew up on his tales out at sea and they’ve come to shape my life. Being an actor and writer, I felt it my duty to create something that will celebrate and shed light on Grimsby’s history, which I hope will resonate with other post-industrial towns with a shared memories.”.

Henderson’s project has garnered support from celebrated author Brian W Lavery (The Luckiest Thirteen, The Headscarf Revolutionaries). Lavery underscored the importance of bringing these histories to life, commenting: I’m a great believer in untold stories and I’m a great believer in stories that make a difference. When I was approached by Evie, I was really impressed by this young woman’s talent and determination.”.

The show features a wealth of regional talent, particularly from Hull and Grimsby, with many of GRIMM’s original cast and crew returning. Key creative roles include Jack Chamberlain as Director, Luanna Priestman as Assistant Director, and Gina Ruffin as Producer.

Photos: Isaac Johnson/Behind the Eyes

Tickets:

GRIMM is touring venues across the UK, reaching from Lincolnshire to Northumberland and South West Wales. The two-night run at the Alphabetti Theatre promises specific access provisions:

• Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle: Wednesday 29 October (Closed Captions)

• Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle: Thursday 30 October 2025 (Audio Described)

Link: https://www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk/grimm

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Limited Edition - SOFT CELL: The Art Of Falling Apart Pink & Orange

Double Vinyl

Release Date: Oct 31, 2025

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Includes remastered original album plus 7" versions

Soft Cell's - aka singer and frontman Marc Almond and multi-instrumentalist and producer Dave Ball - second album is freshly remastered by Barry Grint from the original tapes and shows off the feted duo's harder take on pop music in all its darkly textured and gothic-tinged glory.

REVIEW: Mother Courage and Her Children at Newcastle Live Theatre

Isango Ensemble & Ensemble ‘84 Presents

Mother Courage and Her Children

Newcastle Live Theatre

Until Saturday 1 November 2025

Written by Bertolt Brecht

Translated and adapted By Lee Hall

Directed by Mark Dornford-May

Music by Mandisi Dyantis

It's always a treat when a theatre in the North East tackles a true classic, and this week, Newcastle's Live Theatre is hosting one of the biggest: Bertolt Brecht's renowned epic, Mother Courage and Her Children. Widely considered by some critics to be the greatest play of the 20th century, this searing indictment of war is in Tyneside on a limited engagement. 

A landmark of dramatic literature, this seminal work, written in 1939 with significant contributions from Margarete Steffin, presents a monumental challenge to any company. So how they handle the task of bringing Brecht's challenging and timeless drama to the stage?

The play is historically set against the brutal backdrop of the 17th-century Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), a chaotic period spanning much of Europe. The narrative focuses on the unforgettable, eponymous character, Anna Fierling (Paulina Malefane), a wily canteen woman known as Mother Courage. Determined to make a ruthless livelihood, she travels continuously with her cart full of provisions, following the Swedish Army and seeking profit amidst the endless bloodshed. The audience follows Mother Courage across 12 years of conflict as she attempts to connive and struggle alongside her three children: Eilif (Brodie Daniel), Kattrin (Noluthando Boqwana-Page), and Schweizerkas/Swiss Cheese (Joseph Hammal).

Yet, the play's historical dressing belies its immediate, white-hot urgency. Brecht penned the piece specifically in response to the rise of Fascism and the German invasion of Poland in 1939, making its thematic purpose clear: to demonstrate the devastating effects of conflict and the moral blindness of those who attempt to financially benefit from it. Structurally, this is a key example of Brecht’s epic theatre, employing techniques like the Verfremdungseffekt (estrangement effect). This design intentionally distances the audience from sentimental emotional involvement, forcing us instead to intellectually confront the socio-political issues at the heart of war itself. It's an essential piece of drama that remains, sadly, tragically relevant today.

The show opens with the call to arms. The idea that war is a positive and necessary state of affairs is reminiscent of the propaganda that was used in Germany to ready the people for the impending battles. Soon we are introduced to Mother Courage who is doing well in supporting the conflict. By selling from her cart she is able to make a living but one by one her children find  themselves brought closer to the action in the war with varying consequences. Brecht being Brecht means that the audience is in a different place at the end of the emotional rollercoaster. Whilst you feel for the situation there is that distance from the characters. Certainly the show is effective in making you both feel and think.

This show is stripped down and this adds to the atmosphere. It is also interesting to note that the mix of a South African and a Northern English cast in the accents works far better than you'd imagine. The music and sound effects are also a part of the emotion. The music is created on acoustic percussion instruments with the ensemble adding their voices. They ensemble also add the sound effects ranging from wind through to bird song. This combination of music and sound adds to the kinaesthetic feel of the show.  I loved the movement and music. The cast stay on the stage and yet they could leave a central character feeling alone as much as they can fill it with incredible routines.

There is also song too.  In a talented ensemble, Paulina Malefane really stands out in the titular character. Her sharply observed role and fabulous singing voice combined to create a really memorable performance. 

This, as I've already said, is a timely production as Europe feels less secure. A really engaging performance that keeps up a lively pace makes the 100 minutes fly by. I'm glad there was no interval as that kept the pressure and momentum going. The show managed to stay both entertaining and inspiringly provocative too. 

Review: Stephen Oliver

Photos: Keith Pattison

Tickets: 

https://www.live.org.uk/whats-on/mother-courage-and-her-children 

Approx. 100 mins, no interval

Trigger Warnings: Contains strong language, loud noises, flashing lights and adult themes.

Age Limit: 12+ (recommended). Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.