Review of Flash Festival 2019: The Nubian Sky at Looking Glass Theatre, Northampton

The Nubian Sky starring Shemelia Lewis was one of only two solo performances at this year's Flash Festival, and this exploration of what it is like to be a black woman now generally was a success, but in need of just a little more tightening up, and indeed exploration.

There are some strong moments here, from a youngster watching a quite remarkable cartoon from 1941 (Scrub Me Mama With A Boogie Beat), onto a schoolgirl in trouble for her hairstyle being distracting, and then the most bizarre TV show centring around whether a domestically abused housewife should get justice or not, we of course say yes, the show says no. It's a surreal and quite stunning collection of observations which are tough viewing of course.

Unfortunately, The Nubian Sky doesn't really take anything anywhere, there is, no exploration, it's just generally a basic collection of anecdotes of shocking occurrences, with no depth given.

Despite this, and most vitally though, Lewis is an excellent performer, making all the characters breathe differently. We quickly know who we should find endearing, and who we should be repulsed by, often just by initial and very clever body language.

It can at times get a little picky and bogged down with costume changes, all in view, which often spoils the flow of the piece, and because of the strength of Lewis' performance, are not really needed.

The Nubian Sky though is an interesting show, mostly because of its performer and her obvious dedication to the theme, it just needed a little more substance to actually become a great show.

Performance viewed: Friday 5th April 2019

The Flash Festival 2019 ran until Sunday 7th April 2019 at venues across the town.
Details here: Flash Festival 2019

Review of Top Gs Like Me at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

Long before this brand new play by local playwright Samson Hawkins opened at Royal & Derngate Northampton, Top Gs Like Me had garnered a vast amount of media attention, especially regarding the staging within the Derngate theatre on a remarkable conversion into a skatepark, a theatre version of real-life Radlands skatepark in Northampton. So, delving deep below the remarkable site within the theatre, does Hawkins' play of seething toxic masculinity, misogyny and questions around consent strike all the right marks for a perfect landing? Top Gs Like Me follows the life, as he feels it is, of Aiden. Lost in the modern world, his best mate is heading to Uni, his mum is permanently in bed, and Aiden himself is drifting into some nefarious activities. His world is really often little more than stacking shelves in the supermarket, his scooter at his side and his mobile phone and all that entails for a youth of today. Into this world comes the mysterious Hugo Bang, who leads him some...

Review of Horrible Histories - The Concert at Milton Keynes Theatre

The first Horrible Histories book, written by Terry Deary, first hit the shelves a remarkable 33 years ago and has since become a historic event in its own right, with the franchise growing and growing. There have now been 23 books, several TV series, a game show and a film. Also, of course, it is now a stage show, with both Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians on a current tour around the country. However, here, now briefly at Milton Keynes Theatre, as part of its own tour, is Horrible Histories - The Concert . So, given the franchise's past success, what is this concert version adding to the franchise? The quick answer is bundles of fun with lashings of subliminal education, as Horrible Histories is very much known for. The cast, created from a collection of mainstays of the original series or tours and a few extras, are as enthusiastic as possible for a production, very much initially aimed at an audience of children. Bold, big in character and overplaying everything, you canno...

Review of The Battle at Birmingham Rep

The Battle is a brand-new play by John Niven, set firmly in the nineties, that focuses on the Britpop fight between chart rivals Blur and Oasis. Opening at Birmingham Rep before transferring to the spiritual Oasis home of Manchester, the question is: is this worth donning your bucket hat, heading to the theatre, and enjoying the show to the end, or will you look back in anger when you leave? It is London, 1995. The infamous Britpop battle begins when both Blur and Oasis release singles on the same day. On one side, clean-cut, art-school intellectuals from the South. On the other hand, raw and unapologetic lads from the North. Let battle commence! The Battle is John Niven's first stage play, and he doesn't take the easy route. Deciding to bring both known people, detailed and multiple scenes and ambitious storytelling to proceedings. And for the most part, it all comes together to create a coherent whole. The casting director Claire Bleasdale has assembled a talented group of ...

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