'Our Cousin Flo'

Image credit: William and Jenny Copeland.

(Accessed from http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Carriageworks/)

Many associate Florence Nightingale with reforming nursing and Public Health.  This story however is about Florence, her family and her privileged life as a young woman in Victorian High Society.  Despite this she looks for a way out from the predicted role (and for all women) she expects to fill.

Letters, recently discovered, between Florence and her cousin, Marianne Nicholson, are the basis for the source to be adapted on stage.  Florence and Marianne spent a lot of time together with family.  Leeds' Lotherton Hall has a connection with Gwendolen, Marianne's youngest daughter and Florence's goddaughter. Gwendolen married Frederick Richard Trench G Gascoigne of Lotherton Hall.

The audience is transported back in time when Marianne, played by Harriet Seedhouse, narrates chronologically the events leading to Florence's divine vision to help others.  Her determination to carry out this leads to consequences which then were different to the expectations in society at the time.

Jane McNulty beautifully transfers the text from the letters for creating 'Our Cousin Flo' and is aided by visuals to illustrate the life Florence lived and her vision with some of the cast as spirits.

St Mary's Youth Theatre performs this production well under the direction of David Sheridan.  The creative team, courtesy of Steve Limb, Dave Rossendale and Steve Idle, compliments in unison 'Our Cousin Flo'. Lotherton Hall continues to celebrate the connection with talks and tours.  There is another opportunity to see this production again, open air in its grounds, during June.

Pre-show Feature: Northern Ballet's Jane Eyre

Northern Ballet's Jane Eyre

Image credit: Northern Ballet

(http://northernballet.com)

World Première of Northern Ballet's Jane Eyre is highly anticipated and certainly a hot ticket this season - tickets are sold out for its run at Doncaster's CAST.  This will be a welcoming addition to the Northern Ballet's exciting repertoire including Wuthering Heights and 20 years ago or so The Brontës (under Northern Ballet Theatre).

Coinciding with the celebration of Charlotte Brontë who was born 200 years ago this year. Her actual birthday, 21st April, has been celebrated with academic and cultural activities taking place across Yorkshire and beyond.

Jane Eyre is certainly more about the novel.  The well known novel is enjoyed by many worldwide and was written advance of its era.  Cathy Marston (A Tales of Two Cities) choreographs this production with Philip Feeney who compiles a score of original and existing compositions.  Mario Testino, a reputed set and costume designer, will create the sets and costumes and this will be complimented by lighting by Alastair West, an experienced designer.

Northern Ballet Jane Eyre's rehearsal starring 

Hannah Bateman and Javier Torres

Photo credit:  Justin Slee

(http://northernballet.com)

Marston's inspiration, drawn from the novel, is keen to interpret the character of Jane Eyre and the men that entered into her life.  Also hopefully to how Charlotte Brontë would like to see her immortalised during her time and beyond.

There will be an opportunity, no doubt, to explore existing and emerging themes which some are well known and others not so.  From the 19th May, the audience will be offered in glimpsing into the actual life of Charlotte Brontë as well as enjoying Jane Eyre.

As mentioned at the beginning, tickets are sold out in Doncaster but tickets are still available, at the time of this review, at other venues accessed here.

Dawn Smallwood

22nd April 2016

Brooklyn, Square Chapel for the Arts, Halifax - Friday 15th April 2016

Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan(Image accessed from http://www.squarechapel.co.uk)

Arts and Biscuits is part of the Films at Square Chapel programme.  As well as tea and coffee, Irish biscuits were available, courtesy by of a member of staff at Square Chapel. What is refreshing about watching films there; no commercial trailers and films start at the times stated.

Brooklyn, written by Nick Hornby and based on Colm Tobin's novel, is directed by John Crowley.  This award winning film, released in 2015, stars Saoirse Ronan as Ellis Lacey who is given an opportunity to pursue a better life in the United States.  She, like many Irish immigrants, is destined for Brooklyn.

The film follows Ellis' journey in adapting to life in the US amid homesickness and uncertainty.  She falls in love with Tony (Emory Cohen) who has Italian origin.  The story explores and tradition, immigration and migration, loneliness and love, tragedy and hope. All these themes are intertwined with the warmth and wit the Irish is well known for.

Ellis, forgets what the town was really like until a past encounter reminded her and quickly prompts her future when she emigrated in the beginning and when she appears to settle in the town on her return to Ireland.

A wonderful film with great acting by Ronan, Cohen, Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters. Certainly worth another viewing!



Dawn Smallwood
15th April 2016

Personal Thoughts: Sneaky Experience's The Shawshank Redemption, 25th March 2016

(Accessed from http://www.leedsfilm.com)

Leeds Town Hall was transformed as the 'Ohio State Redemption' for Shawshank Redemption, a live cinema experience. Sneaky Experience in partnership with Leeds Young Theatre Festival offered the interactive experience over the Easter Weekend. Wasn't a time to be an bystander but had to be part of the experience.  As well as Shawshank Redemption there was also the Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory experience for children.  After a very long wait outside the town hall for our fate we were processed as prisoners.

We were then taken down to the court room where I was sentenced to two life sentences for murdering my spouse and his lover.  I didn't share whether I was guilty or innocent and responded, 'no comment'.  No matter whether you're in prison or free one needs to either 'get busy living or get busy dying'.

After the sentencing we were taken to the cells and was roughly prepared for prison life and we experienced the life of fellow inmates just like Red, Andy and Brooks.  Eventually parole was given to all of us including me after admitting I was serving two life sentences!  We then seated in the main hall for the film.

The film, starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, is excellent and we could relate to things in the film form our interactive experiences.  The experience we had linked to the lives the prisoners lived.

It was an excellent experience which certainly enabled me to get more out of this excellent film. One criticism was that we were waiting rather a long time to enter the experience and waiting quite a bit in between some of the different experiences.  I feel we waited longer than we should have done.  Perhaps relook at co-ordinating the experience events that are likely to be held in different areas of a building. Nevertheless it's a great idea, concept and experience!   Great evening in all!

Punching The Sky - Harrogate Studio Theatre, 24th March 2016

(Image credit & accessed from http://www.lizipatch.co.uk)

Punching The Sky is a new play following a personal journey which involved a national media storm when a mother courageously blogged the experience when her 11-year-old son stumbled across online violent pornography.

The play had its beginning as Slap, a Scratch performance at West Yorkshire Playhouse's Playground in 2013 and subsequently developed in a 85 minute theatrical production. Punching The Sky explores the interest generated from the public and industries in the complex and contextual issues around online pornography.

Obviously pornography especially online is still very much in the media spotlight and debates and concerns continue with no hope of definitive answers and foregone conclusions.  The blame continues to shift between concerned parents, competitive Internet Service Providers and the lucrative porn industry with interventions from the media and the Government. The reasons seem to be subjective and the yearning for one to label what's right and what's wrong.

Lizi Patch sensitively and honesty addresses these issues via the story on stage.  The play looks at complexities of relationship with online pornography.  From an audio and visual charged stage setting, Patch narrates, through vivid animation and live acting, experiences of parenting and social peer pressures up to the fateful day.  The day where childhood innocence of the online world is destroyed with a violent introduction into the unknown adulthood.  This only takes a click on an internet link on a smart phone.

The experiences are shared in a fast paced setting.  This reminds the audience of the ever changing world one lives in particularly with the internet and technology.  Following the play one is left with more soul searching questions than answers. Patch quotes in the play, 'If we don't know him, how can we care?'.

This is an excellent, clever and very thought provoking production, Patch sincerely and energetically shares this human experience with support from Emily Dowson as Medea and Milton Lopes as Webster.  Their media and internet perceptions intertwine Patch's personal story.  Light hearted and down to earth too!

The Damned United, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds (On behalf of North West End)

This was originally reviewed for North West End and the link can be accessed here.

Photo Credit: Malcolm L Johnson
(Accessed from http://www.northwestend.co.uk)

Kicking off West Yorkshire Playhouse’s season is Anders Lustgarten adaptation of The Damn United from David Peace’s novel. The production brings to life Brian Clough’s 44 day reign as manager at Leeds United. According to many fans, it was considered a dark chapter of the club’s history, following Don Revie’s legendary era.

Co-produced by Red Ladder Theatre Company and West Yorkshire Playhouse, Peace’s ‘An English Fairy Story’ explores Clough’s brief reign at Leeds United in 1974. The play switches back and forward chronologically to Clough’s football management career from when he first managed Hartlepool United in 1965 to reliving Derby County’s successes between 1967 and 1973.

Signe Beckmann’s simple dim staging combining visuals and soundscapes, arranged by Isobel Waller-Bridge and Nina Dunn, aids the narration.   It is no secret that Clough openly showed contempt to Leeds United particularly to Revie where he declared that he wouldn’t shake his hand. It could suggest jealously was shown to Leeds United’s successes even if arrogance obscures this.

Andrew Lancel is excellent as Brian Clough. Lancel energetically puts in the passion, desire and drive of this controversial character of British football. Clough was an outspoken individual even if one considers he was misunderstood for his drive and enthusiasm. Tony Bell portrays strongly as Peter Taylor, assistant manager, and Bell matches to Taylor’s character from standing up to Clough to supporting him in buying suitable players.

A lot was at stake for Clough at Leeds United particularly the legacy and reputation that Revie left behind. Everything was against him from previous loyalties and strong personalities between the board, players and fans. His unpopularity grew more especially his approach to rebuilding the team instead of relying on reputable players of the past season and before. He even questioned their motivation to win matches and infamously stated, “I want no epitaphs of profound history and all that type of thing. I contributed. I would hope they would say that, and I would hope somebody liked me.”

The ensemble doubling up as dancers represents the football players. They synchronise in unison with the soundscapes and video footages of the matches and anticipated wins particularly during Clough’s Derby County. The dark silhouetted presence of the ensemble who wears masks and interprets the story’s poignancy, reputations, pessimism and the questioning of the ‘beautiful game’. Tim Skelly’s lighting is used effectively in illustrating this sombreness.

The Damned United is about the clash of ideologies between an ambitious manager and a club resting on its legacy and laurels. The clash demonstrates the positive and negative impact of football and its governance and this could apply to other sports too. The complexities of human nature, leadership and power are tested to its limits and its aftermath. There is no doubt that Clough and Leeds United had individually good intentions for succession then even if the outcome then was poignant. However they both triumphed in terms of future achievements since then.

It is certainly more than the ‘beautiful game’ and the ‘working man’s ballet’. The production opens questions about the politics of football with recent allegations of corruption involving FIFA; there is the intensive media interest about what happens off the pitch as much as on; fans’ influences concerning the players and the clubs; and, of course, the reported extortionate rise in ticket prices.

Strong language is used to emphasise the true nature of this thrilling production. The Damned United throughout is ingenious and eye opening. A must see whether one is a football fan or not.

Tosca, Grand Opera House (On behalf of The Reviews Hub)

This review was originally written for The Reviews Hub and the link can be accessed here

(Image accessed from http://www.thereviewshub.com)

For one night only, Opera & Ballet International presented Ellen Kent’s Tosca at York’s Grand Opera House, starring an international cast of soloists and a critically acclaimed orchestra.

Tosca is adapted from Victorien Sardou’s five act drama La Tosca, a French play exploring true love, jealousy, betrayal, torture, murder and suicide.  Tosca premiered in 1900 and is set in Rome at the beginning of the 19^th Century when the city was then under the reign of Naples. Italy at the time was under constant threat of a Napoleonic invasion.

Puccini’s operas are renowned for its melodramatic work, and the tragic opera Tosca is no exception.  This beautiful masterpiece contained arias, recitatives and choruses.  These attributes emphasised the story’s unique characters and plot.  Neoclassical design staging and traditional costumes in the production reflected the era, complimented throughout the three acts.

Alyona Kistenyova portrayed a fiery and passionate Floria Tosca.  Kistenyova projected powerfully through song Tosca’s strong personality and her love for Cavaradossi.  Her determination to be faithful to him remained strong throughout, despite being at the mercy of the villainous Baron Scarpia. One of the outstanding highlights was Vissi d’arte when she emotively questioned spirituality and her very existence at the end Act II.  An expressive and soul searching aria by Kistenyova, it was particularly well received by the audience.

Ruslan Zinevych starred as the artistic Cavaradossi.  Being a victim of injustice and torture, he never stopped loving Tosca, evident of the tenderness between the pair.  When Cavaradossi’s fate was sealed in Act III, one was moved by his romantic E lucevan le stele, reflecting the strong love he and Tosca had for one another.

The powerful manipulative Baron Scarpia was played by Vladimir Dragos.  Dragos’ excellent interpretation of the womanising and power abusing character was palpable throughout.  Noted was his pious determination in Te Deum laudamus in Act I, intending to have Cavaradossi eradicated and to claim Tosca for himself.

The ensemble roles were played by Stagecoach Theatre Arts York’s students, who certainly cherished the fantastic opportunity to star in this international production.

The orchestra, under the direction of Vasyl Vasylenko, played Puccini’s masterpiece wonderfully and to Illica and Giacosa’s libretto.   A variety of musical instruments, particularly the percussion, contributed to the dramatic nature in Tosca.  Sung in Italian with English surtitles, this allowed the audience to experience it in the original language while also appreciating its emotive depths that the opera deserves and the crescendo to the anticipated tragic in the finale ended with a well-synchronised use of music and silences. Tosca was a melodramatic opera with a powerful story, and thoroughly enjoyable.