“Isn’t Goth for people who are too old for Emo?”
The Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, and Live Theatre, Newcastle, present a
co-production of the world premiere of
Goth Weekend
Newcastle Live Theatre
Wednesday 11th October to Saturday 28th October 2017
Written by Ali Taylor
Directed by Paul
Robinson
Cast: Jessica Johnson,
Sean McKenzie, Gurjeet Singh, and Amy Trigg
Designer: Helen
Coyston
Lighting Designer:
Tigger Johnson
Sound Design: Paul
Stear
Casting Director:
Sarah Hughes
Part
sit-com, part kitchen sink drama with lashings of gothic music culture, Goth Weekend succeeds at looking at odd
family life, fitting in and trying to stand out.
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
As the
audience take there seats Belinda (Jessica Johnson) is setting up her guitar
and her son Simon, or Bram as he is known in the scene, is sorting out his
keyboard. Belle Époque, as the gothic cabaret covers/interpretations band is
known open up with Siouxsie & The Banshees’ Spellbound which sets the tone for the evening.
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
The Scarborough gig has just attracted 5 people in
the back room of a pub but, fortunately, one of the promoters of Whitby’s Goth Weekend has spotted them in
action and offers them a gig. It isn’t a big gig, Belinda’s old band is
headlining at the much bigger Pavilion, but a small gig is better than no gig.
Elsewhere in the Scarborough pub widower Ken (Sean McKenzie) is awaiting a date organised by his
daughter Anna (Amy Trigg). He is uncomfortable with the whole idea of dating
but his 15 year old daughter is trying to boost his confidence. The date
doesn’t arrive, they’ve gone to the wrong pub, but Belinda appears and she
wants a drink and company - as she isn’t going to take no for an answer.
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
We are then
seeing the reaction of the two families to this rather conscious coupling. The
stakes are raised when the gothic pair move temporarily from their Gateshead home to Scarborough to share Ken’s home whilst they
prepare for a few local gigs. Schoolgirl Anna is finding it hard to adjust to
the new housemates whilst Simon of Ken’s efforts and fist-bumps.
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
Writer Ali
Taylor has spent some time observing the Whitby Goths and has some appreciation
of the internal conflict between sub-sets within the culture. There is also the
conflict between Goths and those outside of the culture. But there is more to Goth Weekend
than the battle between the Saturday Goths and those who totally immerse
themselves in the scene. The show also finds plenty of material from the normal
problems found in family life, especially when parents split up or a partner
dies.
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
The show
doesn’t get too heavy and there are plenty of laughs. Jessica Johnson channels
her inner Rick Mayall in her flamboyant reaction to the other characters.
Gurjeet Singh comically recoils in horror at Ken’s attempts to fit in. Sean
McKenzie captures a man who is trying too hard well.
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
Each scene
is often segued into the next with some classic 80s goth music. It is a while
since I heard the Damned’s Eloise. The
music choice is more at the mainstream/chart hit side of the scene. No Cold In
Berlin here.
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
The show is
well performed and the comic moments punctuate the family drama. The way to fit
in is to wear the accepted uniform - and this is examined at length. On the
whole Paul Robinson has directed a worthwhile show that is worth a trip to Live
Theatre to see. A couple of the sadder scenes suffer from the classic stage
dilemma of pace versus pathos and a few minutes could easily be trimmed off for
a leaner show. That said, this was a great collaboration between Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre and Newcastle’s Live Theatre.
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
Goth Weekend is a comedy about the music scene
that goes beyond the obvious Goth scene. It is a delightful frolic across the
harbour with some likeable characters and a great cast.
Review by Stephen Oliver
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
Events:
Free events at Live Theatre include a Meet
the Writer post show talk after the 2pm show on Saturday 14 October,
a Goth Weekend Party after the 7.30pm show on Saturday 14
October; a Meet the Cast post show talk after the show on
Tuesday 17 October (both the performance and talk are BSL signed that evening);
a post show talk on Goth Identities and Sub Cultures after the
7.30pm show on Thursday 19 October and a Hallowe’en Fancy Dress Closing
Party after the 7.30pm show on Saturday 28 October. Events are free
for ticket holders for the performance on that day.
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| Photo: Tony Bartholomew |
Tickets:
Tickets are £10-£22, concessions from £6. For
more information or to book tickets visit www.live.org.uk or contact Live Theatre’s Box Office
on (0191) 232 1232.
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