The Alexandra, Birmingham – 15 February 2020 then Nationwide
Reviewed by Joanne Hodge
5*****
I’m a huge fan of Kay Mellor and her down to earth, gritty portrayals of life in The North, and fondly remember the 90’s television show which has now returned to the public arena on stage in this touring production.
Mellors work always focuses on strong females, although they’re not always the classic heroine you might expect. Band of Gold is one of those pieces.
The play is centred on four women of varying ages, who have all ended up as sex workers in The Lanes, a red light area in early 90’s Bradford. All with different backgrounds and at different points in their life, they form a strong bond and dependence on each other, not typical of your usually portrayed female friendships. It demonstrates how life can change on a knife-edge, and how desperation can lead you down the darkest of paths.
Young and vulnerable Gina [Sacha Parkinson] is starting out as an Avon lady to pay off her debts as she struggles to look after her young child following the breakdown of her marriage to the violent and menacing Steve [Kieron Richardson]. She’s naïve and looking for a way to a better life when she knocks on the door of Carol [Emma Osman], and meets Anita [Virginia Byron] at the same time. She becomes intrigued by the lifestyle they lead – and the money they earn – and becomes determined to break through in the city’s seedy underworld.
The group is led by the hard and brashy Rose [Gaynor Faye], and as we follow their journey, you become somewhat fond of them, despite what you may feel about the lives they’ve chosen to lead.
At the request of the writer – Kay Mellor delivers an informative narrative just ahead of curtain up – I won’t divulge the plot, but suffice to say, that despite being set almost thirty years ago, the themes explored are every bit as current as we enter the 2020’s.
Designer Janet Bird, with lighting by Jason Taylor and sound by Mic Pool help to ease the transition from the fast-paced small screen to stage. And the production team do a fantastic job with short sharp scene changes to keep the action moving.
Whether or not you were a fan of the original series, this show is definitely worth a watch – just be cautious if you’re offended by sex, drugs and a frequent expletive!