Leeds Playhouse – until 11 February 2023
Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood
4****
Theatre Royal Wakefield brings this production, Blow Down, to the Leeds Playhouse. Written by Garry Lyons and directed by Tess Seddon, Blow Down, is a down to earth production with a specific focus on the communities of Knottingley and Ferrybridge (West Yorkshire) that served Ferrybridge Power Station during its existence. The Ferrybridge Power Stations were in operation from 1927 to 2016 and its cooling towers, until 2022, were the iconic industrial landmark for motorists passing the site on the M62 and A1(M) motorways and which can be seen for miles.
The communities, including workers, are represented by five cast members. The shared stories, jointly curated by Edgelands Arts, are characteristically rich in content that ranges from the communities’ prosperous industrial period and its strong social scene to the demise and decline of the industries which massively impacted the communities which are considered “forgotten”.
Honest in manner and spirit, Blow Down, shares the happy times as well as the adverse and poignant times which correlate with the ever-changing current affairs and events, particularly politically and environmentally, past and present. Songs and music are shared to reflect the feelings of the individuals and community felt and the exploration of the creative, resilient, optimistic, and determined spirit the residents had and still have – particularly then and now with the camaraderie in the communities’ social sphere.
Excellent portrayals of the cast of Luke Adamson, Matthew Booth, Matthew Bugg, Alison Saxton and Nicky Filshie who gives a great testimony of the workers and communities that served in the vicinity of Ferrybridge Power Stations. It is a celebration of the working class and its industrial pride that served the communities and people’s livelihoods. It’s an excellent collaboration of authentic local stories being woven into an evening’s entertainment with the visual backdrops of the iconic cooling towers.