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Review of No Way Back by Frantic Assembly at the The Core, Corby

Having worn out the seats at Royal & Derngate the perfect opportunity arose to experience the little brother at Corby. The Core is situated in the impressive Corby Cube and offers a mix of theatre, cinema and the dynamic space known as the Lab. It is, I have now found out, a wonderfully gorgeous modern theatre. Stylish stage, comfortable seating (the front row I sat in had interestingly low seats for me but huge leg room) and wonderfully cool.

The performance I had made a ninety minute bus ride for was No Way Back, a Frantic Assembly/Made In Corby production that utilised local non professional talent. Bringing personal stories from the community performers, Frantic created a unique physical production that anyone who has seen A Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time might be familiar.

Despite using what were effectively members of the public there was no let up in the performances they were given to do. There were two performers I was familiar with ahead of seeing the show, these being Masque Theatre's Lisa Shepherd and India Martin who I had seen in this years superb production of Connections play Hood. All others were new to me although no one in the cast left a greater impact on myself (and many others I suspect) than Maureen Gallacher. Commanding her scenes with elegance and grace, she is a star find.

The bulk of the major parts are performed by the professional performers its true but at all times the community are all part of the action and they blend with them professionals perfectly.

The show is blessed also with magical tech and design. Andrzej Goulding's video design is a thing of beauty and in Maureen's rage scene in particular it becomes theatre gold. The use of mannequins is a neat and effective idea and that sudden appearance and face moment provides quite a neat treat. As do the superb quick moving costume rail scenes.

Directors Scott Graham and Neil Bettles have worked hard in just three weeks to create real homegrown magical material and I am so glad that I made my first trip to the Core to see this stunning show.


Performance reviewed: Friday 10th (matinee), 2015 at The Core, Corby.

No Way Back runs between Thursday 9th July and Friday 10th July, 2015 at The Core, Corby. Details here: https://www.thecorecorby.com/Productions/2015-2016/225704/FANWB
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