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The Garden Gate Drama
Shafted!
Newcastle Northern Stage
Until
Saturday 16th April 2016
“…the miners, united, will never be defeated…”
Whilst there are plenty of productions discussing
the immediate effects of the 1984/85 miners strike, such as Billy Elliot, John
Godber’s latest play examines the post strike fallout for one family. Starring
John himself, along with his real wife Jane Thornton, the two handed play
starts in the West Yorkshire
pit village of Upton.
John Godber has been a prolific dramatist, producing
popular plays such as Bouncers, Teechers,
Shakers and Up And Under during his time as artistic director for the Hull
Truck Theatre. Shafted!, for his own
production company, thrusts him back to the colliery village in which he was
born. The language and situations come from that region of West Yorkshire in the same way that
Billy Elliot is fixed on East Durham.
The story begins on a set draped with miner’s
banners and featuring a garden gate. A couple are awaiting the final redundancy
settlement to be organised. The immediate financial hardship leads to meals
consisting of whatever can be scraped together – especially as they owe the
local food store so much money. Harry waits at the garden gate, watching the
world going by and insisting on which types of work he’d be willing to take on.
Dot, in the meanwhile, tries to make ends meet.
The show then shoots through the years, each scene
separated by contemporary music such as Frankie Goes To Hollywood and the Human
League. Harry is forced, by circumstance, to take on roles he doesn’t fancy. Dot,
likewise, ends up with 2 jobs in order to pay the bills. This can only carry on
for so long before Dot suggests heading to Bridlington and the seaside.
Wrapped around the situation is a dialogue steeped
in Yorkshire tradition. No
nonsense. Pragmatic. Matter of fact. Proud to the point of stubborn. Much of
the comedy is derived from this bluntness. The success of that comedy is then
limited by the appreciation of the Yorkshire
wit. Other moments are much more universal and as a result the second act
seemed to have many more laughs.
At 90 minutes, including an interval, the show is
not a particular long one. Was the interval necessary and would the show feel
different without that break?
A show featuring just 2 actors is going to be hard work
for the cast but the chemistry between them is clear. Shafted! has a couple that can argue but clearly, deep down, love
and support each other. It may be over
30 years since the strike but the feelings run deep in that community and
Godber’s latest offering casts some light on such strong emotions. The play is not a safe, middle-class window
into hard times. The pride, and sacrifice, of the region is not compromised in
this respectable comedy.
Cast
& Creatives:
Harry:
John Godber
Dot: Jane
Thornton
Written
by John Godber
Directed
by John Godber & Neil Sissons
Artistic
Advisor Nick Lane
Lighting
& Set Design Graham Kirk
Company
Stage Manager Nikki Colclough
Technical
Stage Manager Sarah Follon
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.
Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/preview-shafted-at-newcastle-northern.html
Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/preview-shafted-at-newcastle-northern.html
Tickets:
Shafted comes to Northern Stage from Tuesday 12th - Saturday 16th April
2016, 7.30pm
Wed 13 Apr Straight from Work Performance: 6pm
Matinee Sat 16 Apr, 2pm
Matinee Sat 16 Apr, 2pm
Tue
- Fri & Sat matinee
£24, £19.50, £14.50
Students/Under 21s: £12
Concessions Available
Saturday Evenings:
16 Apr - 7.30pm
£25, £19.50, £14.50
Students/Under 21s: £12
Concessions Available
£24, £19.50, £14.50
Students/Under 21s: £12
Concessions Available
Saturday Evenings:
16 Apr - 7.30pm
£25, £19.50, £14.50
Students/Under 21s: £12
Concessions Available
Post-show
discussion: Wed 13 Apr
Recommended
age:
14+
For tickets call the box
office on 0191 230 5151, visit the
venue in person or book online at http://northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/shafted
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