Skip to main content

Review of Flash Festival: Duality Theatre Company - It's Starting To Grow On Us! at the NN Cafe

The ultimate in relaxed festival atmosphere was achieved leading up to the start of Duality Theatre's performance with the two performers mingling effortless with the audience in the bijou NN Cafe.

Sarah Kirk and Samantha Colden are our performers for a storytelling performance the like of which I haven't seen previously. This is a relaxed, lackadaisical show with a frequently bickering duo which belies the tough subject matter they are to tell. This is all about the unmentionable big C and its effect on not only the sufferer but the family and friends whom surround.

During the forty minute show and despite Sarah irritatingly (for Samantha) strumming her ukulele and Samantha being challenged with accents and donning false eyebrows, some real tough material is mined. There is heavy and very detailed material in this script, certainly well researched with lots of technical terms you could only guess at the meaning of.

However despite all the heavy subject, it is always kept on the right side of tone. Silly but gorgeous little things like the mirrored journey through the hospital, think an epic plane exit routine and you won't be far wrong. Then we have balloon blowing with yet another uncomfortable wait for the pop like Sidetrack's show and throw in a bit of failed hula hooping and you have a comfortable way of listening to a tough subject.

There is much to love about this show and the way that Sarah and Samantha make it all so effortless in their performance. A dream duo and and a performance straight from the heart which manages to encompass truly silly antics, singing, and ukulele playing while maintaining the true tough story it is telling. Just gorgeous.


The Flash Festival 2015 runs between 18th-23rd May, 2015 at four venues across the town. Details can be found at http://ftfevents.wix.com/flashtheatre2015, while tickets can be booked via the Royal & Derngate. Details at: http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whatson/2015-2016/Other/FlashFestival15

Popular posts from this blog

Review of The Jolly Christmas Postman at Royal & Derngate (Royal), Northampton

The Northampton Royal and Derngate have a tradition of producing a family play in the Royal Theatre alongside a spectacular pantomime in the Derngate, offering a more subtle Christmas treat for a family audience. However, this calendar staple has been missing since 2019, when the fine Pippi Longstocking graced the Royal stage and an unmentionable virus reared its head. Based on this triumphant return this year in the guise of The Jolly Christmas Postman , it has been heartily missed. Adam Peck has truly lovingly adapted  The Jolly Christmas Postman  for the stage from the original story by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. From the beginning, this is a proper cracker of theatre entertainment that captivates an occasionally distractable audience of all ages. The story follows the adventures of a friendly postman beset by an influx of mail on Christmas Eve and his adventures with an assortment of Fairy-Tale characters. What is, in essence, a kid's show aimed primarily at young children ...

Review of The New Adventures of Peter Pan at Castle Theatre, Wellingborough

As if by magic, the pantomime season is once again upon us, and first out of the Christmas hamper of "He's Behind You" antics is The New Adventures of Peter Pan , now playing at The Castle Theatre, Wellingborough. So, do the pantomime gods shine down on this new show, or is it about to get panned? Let us find out. Brought to the stage by producer and director Martin Cleverley, The New Adventures of Peter Pan provides little new to the age-old tale of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan but ploughs through much of the expected pantomime staples. So, expect to see a dame, in the guise of Mrs Smee, those as mentioned earlier "He's Behind You" antics, a nice sing-along, and some awkward or successful audience participation, depending on the show you see. Oh, and of course, The Twelve Days of Christmas and a jolly party at the end, as always. When you have seen one pantomime, you have seen the format forever. However, The New Adventures of Peter Pan is nicely enter...

Review of Cinderella at Royal & Derngate (Derngate), Northampton

Over the last few years, the annual Royal & Derngate pantomime has been produced by Evolution Productions and from the pen of Paul Hendy. It is safe to say they have been crackers, bringing everything you expect and more from traditional pantomime. This year, they are all back, this time with their take on the very traditional story of Cinderella . So, does the magic dust fall once again successfully on the stage of the Derngate? The answer is yes, as Evolution and Hendy prove they have found the magic formula to create another successful pantomime for Derngate. There are moments this year, though, where it is too clever for its own good, with some exceptionally good jokes lost to the panto audience (yes, I got the Hacker joke, but the tumbleweed reaction suggested it didn't hit the audience present). Cast-wise, it is a solid and assured collection of performers who don't always hit the mark. Joanne Clifton, as the Fairy, is a perfect fit for panto with her infectious smile...