Review: How to Occupy an Oil Rig - Newcastle Northern Stage

How to Occupy an Oil Rig

Northern Stage: Stage 2 

11/3/2014

 

Resistance is futile?

A story about protesting is the latest production from Middlesbrough’s Daniel Bye who is ably joined on stage by Kathryn Beaumont and Jack Bennett.

Daniel met the audience as they arrived via the stage and urged everyone to take some plasticine and to make a representation of themselves protesting. Thus the stage, comprising mainly of big Lego blocks, is completed by figurines of the audience. At the start the crowd revealed that their protesting has generally been limited to signing online petitions. The story carries everyone on a high speed tour of protests from those petitions to hanging banners off oil rigs via far more contact with the boys in blue than is normal.  Lucy Crimmens’ Lego set is manipulated by Daniel, Kathryn and Jack as they interact with the story and the audience. An invitation to hold a protest results in 3 of the audience kicking some of the set.

The performance was never intimidating which is always a worry when actors try to get interactive. A thoughtful performance had both lighter moments and an undercurrent of a need to make a difference to society.  The music by Jamie Fletcher helps the segue between incidents and is not intrusive. The actors’ personable performance is never patronising or found to be lecturing. All in all an entertaining and thought provoking performance.

The show continues on tour:

Tues 11 - Thur 13 Mar, 8pm, Northern Stage, Newcastle

Fri 14 Mar, 8pm, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal

Tues 18 Mar, 7.30pm, Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick

Wed 19 Mar, 8pm, Unity Theatre, Liverpool

Thur 20 Mar, 8pm, mac, Birmingham

Fri 21 Mar, 8pm, Derby Theatre, Derby

Sat 22 & Sun 23 Mar, Camden People's Theatre, London

Tues 25 Mar, 7.45pm, Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate

Wed 26 Mar, 7pm, ARC, Stockton on Tees

Thur 27 Mar, 7.30pm, Arts Centre Washington, Washington

Sat 29 Mar, 7.30pm, Barnsley Civic, Barnsley

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo