A Miner Musical
We’re Not Going Back
Washington Arts Centre
9th October 2014.
It
is Isabel’s 18th birthday on the eve of the Miners’ Strike. Her
sisters Olive and Mary treat the occasion more like her 8th
birthday. Olive has strong religious beliefs whilst Mary feels her future is in
drama. Little do they realise how the following 12 months will change them as
people and how much relationships will change. As the title suggests there will
be no going back.
Olive
and Mary are both married to miners but Olive also works in the offices at the
coal board. Loyalties are with the pit and the workers as they join the picket
line. As events unfold their perception of the police and the news
organisations change. Isabel also has a sharp learning curve as she continues
to grow up in the real world.
The
production is laced with a number of canny musical numbers arranged by Beccy
Owen, who sings and plays piano to accompany the vocal talents of Victoria
Brazier, Stacey Simpson and Claire-Marie Seddon. These numbers add a welcomed different
flavour to the production. The song Red City, about the politics of
the city of Sheffield was one of a number of
standout songs.
The
play, which was written by Chumbawamba’s Boff Whalley, pulls no punches with
the ethics of the events of that period. Rod Dixon has directed a play
which happily leans to the left and tries to show the challenges of that period
through the eyes of the women that supported the miners. The 3 actors are
successful in their portrayal of siblings who quarrel and love each other in
equal amounts.
This
is a well acted and heart-warming play about a family under strain. Well worth
seeing.
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 www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo.
On the Web: www.redladder.co.uk
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/redladdertheatr
Actor Stacey Sampson is
writing a blog about being the main ‘bread winner’
in her home following returning to work after having a baby – as well
as writing about the rehearsal process. http://winningthebread.wordpress.com
Photos: Tim Smith
Tour dates:
Fri 10 October
Seaton Delaval Art Centre
Sat 11 October
Queens Hall Arts Centre,
Hexham
15 Oct 2014
The New Bradford Playhouse
17 Oct 2014
Create Theatre, Mansfield
18 Oct 2014
Hemsworth Miner's Welfare
19 Feb 2015 – 21 Feb 2015
City Varieties, Leeds
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