Darlington Hippodrome – until 1 February 2020
5*****
Band of Gold is full of gritty northern realism. The play, based on the TV show of the same name, is set in Leeds in the early 90’s and life is tough. This is Kay Mellor’s bid to go behind the stereotypes of prostitutes in film and TV and put a human face on the world’s oldest profession. Unlike Pretty Woman, the film that came out at roughly the same time as Band of Gold was originally on TV, the show doesn’t glamorise anything – this is business, not pleasure.
There’s a whole array of famous faces in the cast, from some of the UK’s biggest soaps; Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Eastenders. But this is definitely NOT stunt casting. Gaynor Faye rules the stage as Rose, the leader of the girls, who runs The Lane, and puts in a gritty performance from start to finish. Faye is well supported by Laurie Brett who shows off some brilliant acting and fine vocals as the mother figure Anita, but it’s Emma Osman who steals all the best lines as single mum Carol and delivers them with great timing. The number of street workers increases when Gina joins their ranks. She is desperate for money to pay off a loan shark who keeps adding to the amount she has to repay. Sacha Parkinson manages to show how easy it is to end up in her position, reluctantly turning to prostitution in a bid to show she can cope on her own.
Kieron Richardson (Steve) and Shayne Ward (Inspector Newall) almost feel underused, they’re so good – Richardson in particular shone as the bitter, violent ex-husband Steve, all snarls and drunken rage. Whilst Ward seems to genuinely care about the welfare of the women, seeing them as desperate humans not just prostitutes. Andrew Dunn, playing Barraclough, was also superb. Steve Garti (Curly) is a hi-light of the show when, as a regular of Carol, he pleasures himself wearing pink marigolds while she walks up and down for him in stockings and heels
Mellor has chosen to keep this stage play setting in the 1990’s, allowing her to explore the themes of debt, domestic abuse, mental health and the powerlessness of women at the bottom of the social scale, especially those fighting to keep their children. And whilst times have changed and improvements have been made, there is still a long way to go to make sure that women don’t need to sell their bodies in order to survive.
Band of Gold is not a dark and depressing play – there are frequent moments of lightness and humour, with some fabulous one-liners. But at the core this is a story of female friendship, strength and finding a way through even the darkest of times. Mellor is a fabulous writer and gives life and depth to her characters. This is a truly empowering production.
In Darlington until 1 February and on tour around the UK, this is a show not to be missed