The Fire Station, Sunderland – 29th June then touring autumn 2023
Reviewed by Sandra Little
3***
This one hour performance was written by Alison Carr, directed by Annie Rigby and included music co-written by Ross Millard from The Futureheads. It was co-created with a community cast of local residents from Sunderland. The press release suggests that this production, “reminds us we’ve got more in common than divides us” and by the end of the play this uplifting message was apparent.
The production is performed predominantly on a rectangular stage with very basic scenery, props and lighting; seating for the audience is arranged around the stage. The performance begins with the cast sharing everyday, and often judgemental, observations that neighbours sometimes make about one another. We hear about the personal habits of people living on the street and are gradually introduced to three of the residents (Karen Traynor, Kylie Ann Ford and Alex Elliott) who each have a different story to tell and we also discover that each resident responds very differently to a hugely significant and unexpected event that occurs on the street. This occurrence shifts all of the residents out of their usual routines and causes them to interact with one another.
Themes relating to community and individual’s ambitions are explored within the dialogue and the three main characters eventually discover the direction they would like their lives to take as the “unexpected event” which occurs on their street affects them in quite different ways and provides different opportunities for each of them. The ending of this production is quite joyous and uplifting; it illustrates that, despite their differences, communities can come together for the benefit of all concerned.
Live music and songs sung by the cast accompany the dialogue but for me, apart from the final song, they didn’t seem to add a great deal to the performance. I also felt that the messages within the play regarding commonality and division could have been presented more clearly. However on a positive note I must say that the community cast did seem to enjoy their opportunity to perform to a live audience.