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An utterly awe-inspiring theatrical performance that perfectly encapsulates the complexity of the 80’s.

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David Paul Jones takes the stage with his stripped-back rendition of Bronski Beat’s ‘Smalltown Boy’ aptly setting the scene for the rest of the play. A  warm reverb washes over you and his dulcet voice fills the tiny room and invites you to embark on a journey back to the 80s, an era of love, self-discovery, harsh reality and above all- bloody good music! 

An intimate setting of no more than 60 occupied seats, dimmed lights and a small stage sporting a handful of props. Among them were three flower pots, a wooden bench and a Dr Martin’s box. Curiosity was peaked. For most, it was a throwback to their youth. For me, it was an education in the era of paisley patterns and shifting social norms. 

“Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me’ is a thoroughly captivating retelling of the coming of age in the 80’s, exploring events and themes such as Ben Harrison’s first crush in primary school where he recalls the embarrassing memory of wearing a gym kit that only highlighted his already skinny legs in time where being slim was not the “in thing” or the harsh reality of young boy’s struggles with toxic male figures in their lives.

It is the composition of this play that makes it so memorable, each section is signaled by a beautiful rendition of a famous song, typically pertaining to the theme of the segment. “Boy’s Don’t Cry” from The Cure was followed by an uncompromising narrative about a young boy traumatic first encounter with an electric razor- an event that should signal something positive was overshadowed by a fragile outburst from the boy’s father which instilled the same sense of misdirected rage in him. A nod to generational trauma. 

Emery Hunter, Glasgow-based actor and writer, delivered an outstanding performance. Her addition of British Sign Language not only made the play more accessible for those hard of hearing but heightened the senses by putting heart and soul into each movement, taking the play to the next level. Justyna Jablonska’s work on cello brought a stunning diversity to the play, often underscoring key moments and enriching each song with a mournful undertone. 

The lighting of the play was another crucial element, the work of Simon Wilkinson enhanced every aspect with the cleverly utilized LED pulse light becoming a key feature of the performance and utilizing colours to reflect the mood on stage. Simple yet effective, the set design was truly immersive with a handful of props to emphasize certain points, notably the trio of flowers in which Ben recites the Latin names of whilst reminiscing about his grandmother’s breadth of knowledge or the bench in which Ben wakes up on with the realisation he could have died at the tender age of 14 after vomiting, attempting to piece together the blurry, alcohol-fueled night prior. That same bench tells the story of Ben’s beloved childhood cat, Mr Polly (hilariously played by David) who is put down several years later and while sat on that bench, Ben recalls how that made him feel. This was a prime example of how theatre pushes you to do so much with so little. 

Weaving together personal tales and reimagined stories, we are guided through a vivid, evocative and highly relatable performance, one which brought some audience members to tears. ‘Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me’ is a powerful, heartwarming and warming piece of theatre that is a testament to the cast and crews ability.