Author: roisinlyst

Image Credit: Pamela Raith

REVIEW: I, Daniel Blake

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

“A poignant and powerful adaptation”

A poignant and powerful adaptation of the 2016 film, highlighting the stark reality of the most vulnerable citizens in the UK. A must-see for everyone, particularly those of us who are privileged enough to not have to claim benefits.

‘I, Daniel Blake’ is a stage play adapted from the 2016 Ken Loach film about the unforgivable flaws in the UK benefits system. It follows Dan, a man recovering after a heart attack, and his battle to be treated as a citizen whilst being passed between his doctor, the job centre, the government, and hours on the phone on hold – all the while receiving no money to survive. He meets Katie and her daughter Daisy, who are going through a similar battle of unfair treatment, and befriends and helps them in their own struggles.

Utterly poignant and perfectly pitched, this play left many of the audience in tears, and was greatly deserving of its standing ovation. David Nellis was outstanding as Dan, as was Jessica Johnson as Katie. There was no shortage of emotion and rawness on the stage, and being right in front of you gave a lot of gravity to the reality of the story. One part I found particularly powerful was an angry speech from a homeless man, defending Dan and berating the system with passion. Despite the serious topic, somehow the play also found moments of comedy and had the audience laughing out loud several times, with typical northern humour.

The supporting actors Kema Sikazwe, Jodie Wild, Micky Cochrane and Janine Leigh were brilliant too, each playing multiple parts. I thought the simple dynamic set was very well designed to reflect the basic living standards of people ‘existing, not living’. The backdrop video also worked perfectly to display quotes and various flyers and adverts that would have been circulating, and the sound and lighting brought the whole production together, transporting you into a world that too many people are a part of.

It used real clips of politicians throughout – sound bites of them referring to the benefit system, defending it and blaming the citizens instead. The story made it starkly clear how badly they had missed the point. In fact, the whole play was extremely well-researched – for example the questions Dan had to answer to attempt to claim Employment and Support Allowance seemed so ridiculous and unjust, but actually were the exact questions asked in real life. 

The message of ‘I, Daniel Blake’ was clear, as director Mark Calvert says: ‘A call to keep telling these stories until our country truly supports its most vulnerable, rather than protecting the privileged few and demonising those in need’. I have seen amongst my family and friends how difficult it can be to find a job, and it struck me how scarily easy it would be for many people I know to fall victim to the flaws of the UK benefits system. 

I implore everyone to go and see this play, and be ready to realise how close to reality Dan’s and Katie’s stories are.

I, Daniel Blake plays at Northern Stage until 4th April before heading on tour across the UK this spring. Tickets are available here.

REVIEW: Birdwatching

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

“It was clear some people had found the play quite powerful”

‘Birdwatching’ is a three-woman show set in the Northumbrian forests, which follows a group of girls in their late teens attempting a camping trip. It explores themes including folklore, neurodivergence and friendship dynamics between young women. 

The Northern Stage is a very nicely presented and modern little theatre, and I appreciated the intimate setting for this particular play. As it began, the very minimal set of just leaves on the ground was enough to make the audience feel like we were enveloped in the surroundings of a forest, where the story was about to unfold.

The acting was brilliant. As someone who was a teenager not long ago, I felt like I could relate to each character in some way. I thought it was a great idea to create a dynamic of neither three friends nor three strangers: these were two people who were mutual friends with the third. It meant tension and jealousy started to arise, as they unintentionally competed for attention and proving that they were the closer friend. It was interesting to see how one of the girls, Lauren, showed neurodivergent characteristics: very nervous, insecure and struggling to fit in, particularly with the girl she didn’t know. Meanwhile it seemed that one of the other girls, Poppy, could be too, but it was less obvious because she had more of a confident and abrasive front. The third, Amelia, had trauma in her past, and the way the three acted around each other and treated each other was fascinating – I imagine it was very interesting to write. In some ways, the competition between Poppy and Lauren over Amelia made them almost ignore Amelia herself, and dismiss her concerns of danger.

Throughout the show, I felt it was taking a path where the girls were going to uncover things about themselves and each other, ultimately developing relationships and potentially romance. There seemed to be a lot of loose ends and things mentioned which I was hoping would culminate in a resolution, but many of them were never mentioned again, and instead the story took a sudden wild turn, ending with what I could only describe as paranormal horror. I would say that there were a lot of unanswered questions, and it left me feeling slightly unsatisfied.

After the show there was a question and answer session which allowed the audience to talk to the cast and producers. It was lovely to hear people talk about identifying with the characters due to their own experiences of being neurodivergent, young and queer, and it was clear some people had found the play quite powerful.

In summary, I found the acting brilliant, the concept and characterisation very interesting and my attention was held throughout, but I felt there was more of a story to unfold before the abrupt ending.

Photo provided courtesy of Divided Culture Co

REVIEW: Yen

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

An intense and immersive drama, following the lives of two teenage brothers surviving a childhood of instability and neglect.

‘Yen’ is an immersive dive into the lives of two brothers, aged 13 and 16, who are living alone in a flat, with little to no support from the outside world and a family who are almost safer to avoid. It explores the effects on their growing up, and the harsh reality of life when left to their own devices at such a young age.

I found this play enthralling. The acting and writing were both of a very high standard and while it was hard to watch in places, I couldn’t help but be mesmerised by the story. The small, intimate venue was perfectly suited, as it really felt like we were there in the little flat with them. The set was simple, depicting the room with a single mattress on the floor, a window and a chair, but an unusual but integral feature of the set was a TV set up with a PlayStation. This was obviously a big part of the boys’ lives: for a lot of the play, one of them would be on the PlayStation as life happened around them – either as a coping mechanism or a way to pass time. From where I was sitting, I could see the screen clearly and I found myself watching the game whilst listening to the conversation in the flat – which is exactly the perspective of the brother holding the controller. To allow the audience the mix of that sense of detachment, with the inability to actually escape the situation was genius.

As the story progresses, we meet their mother who visits occasionally in a drunken state and begin to understand how they ended up in this situation. The dynamic between hyperactive thirteen-year-old Bobby and reserved, traumatised sixteen-year-old Hench was portrayed to be tense and loving and difficult, and not everything in the plot is explicitly described – rather inferred through conversations and emotions. For the majority, this was brilliant and somehow weaved subtle storytelling with intense drama, however I was a little confused at times. The boys’ dog, named Taliban, was a running theme and felt like a metaphor for their trauma: they didn’t know how to look after or control it, and it haunted them every night, despite their fervent attachment to it. Ultimately the boys meet a girl called Jen with a similarly complicated situation yet a better outlook on life. Her presence brings a burst of light and then shade into their lives, highlighting the effects of their suffering on the outer world. Can the chain really be broken?

The cast, made up of Adam Owers, Jonny Grogan, Lucy Eve Mann and Vicky Binns were outstanding. Despite the three teenage characters being played by older actors, the story was told so well that it barely mattered. Of course, without good writing and direction from Anna Jordan and Connor Goodwin this wouldn’t have come together as effectively, and the whole team deserves celebrating. 

Parts of this play were violent, parts were tender, and parts were funny. The range was impressive, and it’s not one to forget. I would recommend this with a warning of intensity and explicit content, but as a piece of art that shouldn’t pass you by.

REVIEW: Ezra Collective

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

A great, family friendly night for fans of contemporary jazz dance music.

As I entered the venue on the sunny summer’s evening, the atmosphere was just that: sunny. All the Ezra collective fans spread out within the big top and on the grass outside, soaking up the rays and enjoying a cold drink as the support act, electronic jazz DJ Rebecca Vasmant, warmed the audience up. I noticed there were people of all ages, unlike the last couple of shows I attended at this festival where it had been mainly older people. Here it seemed to be grandparents bringing their grandchildren, and everyone in between.

Ezra collective gave a special thanks to the festival for this, and celebrated everyone who contributes to young people’s education and enrichment. Having met at a youth group, the band clearly feels strongly about the subject. They also declared that children remind us of the beauty in the world, and we need to celebrate the beauty to drown out the sadness.

Ezra Collective is a multi-award-winning London-based contemporary jazz quintet, and their music feels like a fusion of dance music and jazz. You can’t sing along to it, but it’s certainly meant for dancing. The whole atmosphere was joyful, but there were a few slower numbers amongst the upbeat buzz too. I was very impressed by the skill of the musicians, particularly Femi Koleoso, who delivered a memorable drum solo, but each of them were incredible. The lighting design was also very good, adding to the party atmosphere. They played for around an hour and a half, during which people could partake in the throng of the dancing within the tent, stand further back and appreciate with fewer crowds, or mill around on the grass outside. I really liked this setup for a gig, because I wasn’t stuck in one place and could enjoy different aspects. While it was primarily standing, there was an accessible area up a ramp at the back for wheelchair users to watch from an elevated platform, and outside there were a few benches. The bar system was well designed and I felt the whole venue was very well run. Personally, I prefer music I can sing along to, but I really can’t fault the gig.

If you enjoy the music of Ezra Collective and want a good dance, I highly recommend seeing them live. The Fringe by the Sea’s big top is a perfect venue.

REVIEW:Comedy Club with Alan Davies at Fringe by the Sea

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

A fun evening of stand-up, featuring three acts and headlined by Alan Davies.

Filing into the Big Top at the Fringe by the Sea festival in North Berwick, it was soon quite clear that the demographic for this show was a good thirty years older than me, and probably primarily men – so I was intrigued to see how the material would hold up for me, a 23-year-old woman. And for the most part, I wasn’t disappointed.

The show was compered by Jay Lafferty, a comedian from Greenock but now living in Edinburgh. Her set included talk about the menopause and the difference between Greenock and Edinburgh, and at first I didn’t find her funny – In fact the screens either side of the stage had (what appeared to be) AI generated captions, and I was quite entertained by these misinterpreting what she said. However as she came on the second time I felt her material was better, and I felt the audience warmed to her throughout the night. 

Gareth War was the first act on stage. His first line immediately had the audience, and from then he did a good set. He told stories of his most embarrassing moments, including in a massage parlour and during an early date with his now wife, and had the audience laughing throughout.
Chris Forbes was the second comedian on the bill, and he too did a very funny set. A brilliant impersonation of his dog, and impressions of his wife were featured, and the classic ‘how he met his wife’. Two running themes of the night seemed to be their wives and their sex lives, which must be favourite topics for male comedians. It was funny but perhaps they could have thought outside the box a little more.

The final act was of course Alan Davies, well known for QI and Jonathan Creek amongst many other things. He was, as expected, the best of the three. A particular routine about the idea of giving guns to teachers was hilarious, and it was a real treat to see him live. It was largely about middle-aged man problems which obviously aren’t relatable for me, but I found it amusing regardless. His jokes land with pretty much everyone, because he is just naturally funny.


The comedy club had two intervals between the three acts, which may not have been needed for some as the show was only 1.5hrs long, but personally I found the plastic folding chairs uncomfortable and my 23-year-old back was glad of the breaks.


The audience laughed easily and freely throughout the whole night and I had a great time – it was a real treat to see Alan Davies and I just wished he’d been on for longer.

Listing: https://www.fringebythesea.com/alan-davies/

REVIEW: Remythed

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

‘Remythed’ is a fun, atmospheric piece of theatre, celebrating queer joy by re-telling old stories from a different perspective.

Live Theatre in Newcastle isn’t a venue I had ever been to before, but I would certainly go again. With a cosy yet modern feel, it really lends itself to contemporary shows, whilst also having a timeless feel. I was sat in the cabaret seats of the small auditorium, with a table and the option to be very close to the stage. 

‘Remythed’ opened, and the five cast members immediately put the audience at ease with a few jokes and introductions. From there they each transformed into characters from myths, legends and stories, and began to tell them as we’d never heard them before. Many stories, as they were passed down, have been whitewashed or stripped of any queerness. However, since society now largely accepts that queer people always have and always will exist, it makes sense that many of these stories probably involved more of them than we have been led to believe. Especially since some of the stories don’t quite make sense under scrutiny…

Amongst many others, they told the story of Adam’s first wife, Lilith, rejecting him. Another was about Lady Godiva’s unhappy marriage to a man, and her finding love with another woman. I didn’t recognise most of the stories, so I think I would have followed it slightly better if I knew the ‘original’ versions, but the whole show was powerful, and seamlessly choreographed and executed.

I was captivated by the acting. Each cast member played multiple different roles of different genders and from different legends, and each one was clearly discernible from the last. There were bags of energy and drama, with lots of physicality and playfulness filling the room. Despite the set being extremely minimal, it somehow still felt like every different scene was perfectly portrayed, and the show was extremely slick apart from one part when the sound dropped out. As the energy of the show felt spontaneous anyway, it barely affected anything.

I would have liked a little more familiarisation of the stories as they are widely told before seeing the re-telling, but perhaps that says more about my lack of general mythical knowledge. I can imagine for queer people watching this, it feels very validating to see the stories as they likely were, and the celebration of queerness always having existed. It was both eye-opening and funny, with an enchanting spirit.

REVIEW: Sh*t Life Crisis

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

An energetic two-woman show about cancer which will have you laughing, crying and maybe even singing.

Sh*t Life Crisis is a two-person show which follows Grace, a cancer survivor, and her best friend Abbie, as they navigate life during and after cancer. I saw it in the Alphabetti Theatre, a small and delightful Fringe-esque venue in Newcastle. This suited it because the stage floor was only a few square metres, although I wondered if it was too intimate for the audience to feel comfortable singing along.

It was full of energy, and the two actors, Florence Odumusu and Madeleine MacMahon, gave it their all. It had light and dark, with the audience laughing, crying and singing and the soundtrack was full of iconic queer pop songs, which are perfect to sing along to. Unfortunately I think many of the audience weren’t familiar with some of the songs and so only a few really got into the karaoke aspect. It was also difficult to read the karaoke lyrics unless you were sat directly in the centre. I can imagine with a different audience or venue, there would have been many more people singing or dancing: Florence and Madeleine both had brilliant voices and were very encouraging.

I found the story very educational, and carried important messages about the necessity of being there for friends with cancer or anxiety, and how best to handle it. I learnt a lot about the side effects of chemo, and the lingering issues that cancer causes, completely apart from the trauma of almost dying. It was very obvious that the writer, Olivia Hannah, had experience of the illness and all it entails. Her writing was clever and entertaining, and for those wanting to support a loved one going through cancer, this is a very powerful and eye-opening show to watch. It also compels you to celebrate your own health and make the most of life, because it’s easy to take good health for granted.

Madeleine MacMahon was outstanding as Grace’s best friend, Abbie. She played her with such humour and energy, but also portrayed various other characters in Grace’s journey. Her range was very impressive, with each character being completely different despite no costume change. Her singing ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ with different voices for the male and female parts was a particular highlight; for a show about cancer, it was refreshingly funny.

I think this show should be seen by anyone who doesn’t know what it’s like to go through cancer. Everyone should be educated in order to support a friend going through it, because it’s likely that every one of us will come across it, and it can make the world of difference to have the right support.

REVIEW: …Earnest?

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

A hilarious and genius improv show

…Earnest? begins as if you are watching a true performance of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. The lights come up, the set is revealed and the actors spring into the scene. Before long, however, you realise the show in front of you may not be true to the book. 

Chaos ensues when it becomes apparent that the actor playing Earnest is not in the building. The supporting actors unsuccessfully attempt to cover without seeming flapped, but soon the whole show has fallen apart in plain view of everyone. The director must take to the stage, apologise, and reluctantly reveal the only plausible solution: to cast one of the audience members in his leading role. 

From this point onwards, the show becomes increasingly hilarious. As an unsuspecting victim is ushered on stage, given a costume and seemingly very limited direction, the other actors must grapple with this change, which they do with varying levels of confidence. The script is genius, allowing for improv to carry the show’s vibrancy. Throughout the performance, disaster continues to strike the company, causing need for another audience member to be cast, and then another, and then another. Eventually the stage is occupied by only bewildered members of the audience, while the rest of us roared with laughter.

From start to finish, this show was hilarious. The amount of comedic devices running through it meant there was never a dull moment and the pace never slowed, even though most of those on stage hadn’t done a single rehearsal. It’s absolute madness and I can imagine must be a lot of fun for the company, with every performance being unique.

It was also fun to see the characters selling their own merchandise during the interval. Afterwards the actors greeting everyone in the foyer: clearly a group of friendly, jovial people and so I’m sure those picked to go on stage had a wonderful experience too.

I would recommend this show to anyone, but be warned: don’t sit near the front if you don’t want to risk a taste of the stage lights!

REVIEW: In Other Words

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

 This heartbreaking portrayal of the effects of Alzheimer’s disease only needed two people and two chairs to hit hard. 

Looking around the little room as the lights came up and people started to sit down from their standing ovation, I observed a reaction I’d never seen before in theatre: all around, couples and friends were turning and hugging each other. There wasn’t much talking, only crying and hugging.

I prefer to conduct more research after I’ve seen a show, because I like to form my own opinions without expectation. So when I later read that ‘In Other Words’ had won many awards and travelled across seven countries and four continents, it made a lot of sense. This show is a masterpiece, and it is no surprise that it has experienced success since 2017. In fact, I realised I was lucky to see it being performed by the writer himself, Matthew Seager.

The story follows Arthur and Jane: a couple who meet, fall in love, and spend their lives together. Then comes a point where Arthur begins to forget things. Every stage of Alzheimer’s disease is portrayed, and as Arthur’s condition deteriorates, both of their worlds begin to crumble. The running theme is the music of Frank Sinatra, which was present through their whole lives together. In the end, only that seems to bring them peace, even when Arthur seems to be lost completely. It brought them back together during the hardest times.

The whole thing was so beautifully done. It’s an intimate show, suited to a small venue (the Alphabetti Theatre seated 80), with a very simple set of two chairs and a lamp and just two characters, who were present for the whole 70 minutes. We were so close that the story seemed even more personal and profound. They used simple costume and lighting changes to indicate the passing of time, and jumping timelines, but there was never confusion as this was designed and executed brilliantly.

Matthew Seager’s acting was incredible. His ability to act a lifespan involving the deterioration of Arthur’s condition as he aged was stunning – his posture and mannerisms gave away the deep experience and understanding of Alzheimer’s. Lydia White’s portrayal of Jane was equally moving as the couple lived through an emotional rollercoaster together, but seemingly on tracks that were going in different directions. Both perspectives were recognised and heartbreaking.

So many people suffer the effects of Alzheimer’s, and it is unbelievably cruel to watch someone you feel completes you, begin to no longer recognise you. The show’s power and impact is exactly what is needed to raise awareness. Art is to make you feel, and the tears in the room by the end were a testament to the success of this piece of art.

Martletts Hall 28.03.15, Derek D'Souza

REVIEW: From the Jam – ‘Setting Sons’ 45th Anniversary Tour 

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

A fantastic night to celebrate the great Bruce Foxton on his last ever tour with From the Jam.

‘From the Jam’ is so called because it was formed by original members of The Jam, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler. Since 2009 when Rick Buckler left, Bruce Foxton has been performing with From the Jam alongside Russell Hastings and Mike Randon, but this is his final tour before he leaves the band due to health issues. Undeniably, this means it is a special event for all his fans.

Bruce didn’t appear on stage until forty minutes into the show, raising some concern amongst the audience in light of the news on his health. Russell and Mike, along with a stand-in bassist, kept the fans dancing until Bruce made his entrance, at which point there were cheers and chants of his name throughout the room with so many people delighted to see him. This show of support continued throughout the whole gig. There was of course also a tribute to the late Rick Buckler, who died only this year. They both spoke about him and had a large image of his face as the backdrop.

It was a sell-out show, so the Boiler Shop was packed. It was the sort of room where as a small person unless you get to right at the front, it’s quite hard to see anything, but the music provided an electric atmosphere. Everyone was having a great time, and even if you don’t know much of the music there will certainly be songs you recognise. Their hits include ‘Town Called Malice’, ‘Down at the Tube Station at Midnight’ and ‘Going Underground’, but I also enjoyed ones I hadn’t heard before including ‘Lula’: a From the Jam original. The band played brilliantly, with the musicians as tight as ever and Russel Hastings sounding remarkably like Paul Weller.

The support act was ‘London Calling’, a ‘The Clash’ tribute band. A good choice, since I imagine the two bands have many mutual fans. Their songs included ‘I Fought the Law’ and ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’. They were very authentic and got the audience going before the main event began.

The demographic were mainly people over 50 as was expected, but I also enjoyed it and could appreciate how important this event was for all their long-time fans.