Rose Theatre – until 12th October 2024
Reviewed by Carly Burlinge
5*****
The Rose Theatre brings you the production of never let me go based on the well-known novel by Kazuo Ishiguro adapted by Suzanne Heathcote and directed by Christopher Haydon. It tells the story of a group of students that have been cloned and reside at Hailsham boarding school, where their futures have already been decided! They are trained to take care of other doners before having to donate their own organs only leading to their death!
Kathy (Nell Barlow) who is one of the clones takes you through her story of being at Hailsham, her childhood there alongside the friends she’s made Ruth (Matilda Bailes) Tommy (Angus Imrie) and others. Whilst going through her childhood antics it also hits on Kathy’s love for Tommy that gets pushed aside by her best friend, Ruth stepping in despite knowing the true feeling between the pair from the very start. This only causing a void that threatens their friendship making them split. But then coming back together years later, where the circumstances are very different, they are now faced with the reality that they always knew and was told would be coming! “You were brought into this world for a purpose. And your futures – all of them – have been decided.”
All the acting throughout this performance I felt was strong and powerful the connection that was delivered on stage was exceptional. I felt the emotion and even shed a tear at the end. The production was thought provoking making me think about what it really means to be a human!
The set was very simple but very skilfully managed with great lighting to dramatise certain scenes. Simple props were used to go back and forth to different times within the story very cleverly done, as well as some other backdrops and sounds that really gave the story some added feeling and emotion.
All in all, Never Let Me Go was a remarkable production with much feeling superb acting from a strong cast with a great story line well worth a watch. Definitely not one to be missed!!!