Oldham Coliseum Theatre- until 1st October 2022
Review by Rebecca Hampson
5*****
Directed by Gitika Buttoo and Designed by Foxton, Jim Cartwright’s Road transported us straight back to 80s with eccentric fashion and incredible music.
The set design perfectly complemented the performance space as we saw multiple elements, such as street lights, sofas and beds which allowed us to believe the multiple spaces and houses of the street.
Through a spectacular series of multirole we saw the stories of the numerous people that lived on the Road with the story unfolding before us with the aid of our Narrator, Scullery, played by Richard J Fletcher. This character drew our attention to political moments within the play as well as providing a comic relief between emotional scenes. Fletcher was incredible as Scullery and the audience feel in love with his cheeky charming personality.
There was moments of audience participation through the breaking of the fourth wall in the opening moments of the play. Characters would speak directly to audience members picking them out between the crowds and involving them in the play. We saw characters walk down from the stage into the aisles chasing one another and even throwing things on stage which allowed us as an audience to feel present and involved with the characters.
A moment that particularly struck me was the emotional scene between Joey, played by John Askew, and Clare, played by Alyce Liburd. Within this scene we see two characters who have both lost their jobs, living in poverty begin a hunger strike. The purpose of this is never revealed but we as an audience become encapsulated in their demise as we see them get sick and eventually die through their actions. The chemistry between Askew and Liburd amplified the loving relationship between the character and their commitment to one another and their decision.
We also saw local royalty in the form of Paula Lane who played the characters of Brenda, Lane, Marion and Valerie. Having known Lane from Coronation Street I was amazed with her versatility transforming between characters changing not only her physicality but vocals adopting a Liverpudlian accent for the character of Marion. Her unique charisma was shown within each character she played and within the interactions these characters had with others.
For me the icing on the cake for this play was how it was crude but hilarious, serious yet lighthearted and displayed the politics of the late 80s in a way that were still relatable in 2022.
Running in the heart of Oldham at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre, this fabulous play is not one you want to miss!