Preview: Life & Loves Of A Nobody at Washington Arts Centre

Her Life Is In Your Hands

The Life & Loves Of A Nobody

Washington Arts Centre

22^nd May 2015.

It is said that Andy Warhol suggested in 1968 that in the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.  Recent television talent competitions perpetuate this concept as real people try to find the spotlight and seem willing to do anything in order to do so.

Third Angel have developed a show which feels very familiar with a television style presentation. Rachael Walton and Nick Chambers open up by apologising for the protests outside though the audience are left in the dark as to why anyone would object.

Rachel is the contestant who has been selected after extensive auditions but before she puts in an appearance we are given her life story to date. The sequence of snapshots from her life that follows are very cleverly put together.

From the moments her parents are aware she has been conceived to the highs and lows of adult life, the audience are exposed to recognisable mundane, yet funny, aspects of  normal life. This produces many a laugh for the audience as they recognise the awkwardness of growing pains. This brought back memories of the 80s tv series “The Diary Of Adrian Mole aged 13 and ¾s. The rants between couples were both intense and often funny.

The stage design is very well thought out as butterflies, tower blocks and shadowplay houses appear without any pause in the action. Both set designer Andrew Stephenson and lightining designer Mark Howland need praise for the often subtle yet inventive solutions. The street lights reflecting on the river and the disappearance of the butterflies and raincoat exemplify the cunning design.

Rachael Walton also directs the show and has built upon the original concept of the girl who joined the circus.  The Life & Loves Of A Nobody is now a well paced reflection of life in the 21^st century – right down to the laminated floorboards.  The finale leaves the audience in suspense as they will reflect upon how a real television audience might behave in similar circumstances.  

A cracking reflection of the human condition which resulted in many laughs. Well worth seeing.

Read the original Jowheretogo Preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/preview-life-loves-of-nobody-at-arts.html

There will be one more show (Rapunzel) before the theatre at the Washington Arts Centre goes into the dark for its refit. After the exciting work has redeveloped the theatre space it will reopen in the Autumn. We wish the team at the Arts Centre every success in turning their plans into reality.

On The Web:

Website:  http://www.thirdangel.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thirdangeluk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirdangeluk

Tour:

Hexham Queens Hall Tuesday 2 -Wednesday 3 June 7.30pm

Tickets: £12.00 / £10.00 (Friends / benefit conc) / £5.00 (student)

Hexham Queen's Hall Web Link

Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre

Thursday 4^th  June – Friday 5^th June 2015 Tickets: £4.00 to £8.00

Hartlepool Web Link

Preview: The Life & Loves of a Nobody at Arts Centre Washington

The Life & Loves of a Nobody – new show finds beautiful in the seemingly ordinary

Third Angel and Sheffield Theatres present

The Life & Loves of a Nobody
Thursday 21 + Friday 22 May, 7.30pm

Arts Centre Washington

Following its premiere in Sheffield last year, The Life & Loves of a Nobody is now entertaining audiences on a national tour.

Rachel always wanted to be a star. Rachel wanted to run away with the circus. And have her name in lights. And escape from this house. And she dreamed of the future.

But people can be ugly. The closer they are the uglier they get. And there’s nobody closer to yourself than yourself. Life is a juggling act. Love is a highwire. Try to do both at once, and it's a long way down. But even if the act goes wrong, you can still be famous for the fall.

This visually stunning show about an ordinary woman journeys along a tightrope wire of dreams and realities, exploring the differences between the future we want to create for ourselves and the legacy that we leave behind.

With beguiling staging and beautifully crafted moments, addressing the ideas of destiny, celebrity, beauty and fame, this brand new show asks the question: how far will someone go to achieve their dreams, and at what cost?

The Life & Loves of a Nobody is a Sheffield Theatres and Third Angel co-production. Written by Third Angel Co-Artistic Director Rachael Walton, with contributions from award-winning writer and Third Angel artist Chris Thorpe, the show is performed by Rachael Walton and Nick Chambers.

Third Angel is a critically acclaimed company, creating theatre that is challenging, energetic and engaging about everyday people and life. Recent successes include What I Heard About The World and Cape Wrath.

Tickets:

The Life & Loves of a Nobody is on at Arts Centre Washington, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington.  NE38 8AB on Thursday 21 + Friday 22 May, 7.30pm.  Tickets are £8.50 / £6 (conc) and are available from www.artscentrewashington.co.uk or by calling 0191 219 3455.