Hull New Theatre – until 9th December 2023
Reviewed by Cath Wright
5*****
The Centre for Contemporary Storytelling presented Turn & Face The Strange The Mick Ronson Story at the Hull New Theatre last night (sponsored by University Quarter and MRN Print). The show is written and produced by Garry Burnett and Rupert Creed and it is Gary and Rupert who are the narrators for the show. From the start it is quite clear that all in the show have an abiding love for Mick Ronson, the man, and for his music, and this results in the most fabulous show.
This is a carefully crafted and unusual show telling the story of Mick Ronson’s life, full of anecdotes from those who knew him, both as recorded soundbites and live in the theatre. Interspersed within the story is the music and oh my word can the Turn & Face The Strange band play, this was some of the very best live music I have heard in a very long time. Four large photos of Mick form a backdrop to the stage together with a screen on which photos and videos relevant to the point in Mick’s life appear. Mick also appears on screen in clips as he talks about various periods in his life, what becomes clear very quickly is that he was a very humble and self-effacing man.
The show takes us from Mick’s humble roots and show how his ethic for hard work was inherited from his Dad, with his Mum fostering his love of music, buying him his first piano. We move on to his involvement in local bands and his first attempt to break into music in London – he was back in Hull in six months and working as a gardener for Hull City Council! John Cambridge (last night’s drummer) then tells the story of how he introduced Mick to David Bowie, and the rest as they say is history.
Turn & Face The Strange delves into the musical influences of Mick and then looks at how these led to his later musical arrangements for David Bowie and others. It also shows clearly that this was a man who never forgot his roots or lost his generosity of spirit.
The band were superb, the sound produced simply sublime. Emily Hanover, Chris Heron, Rebecca Draper, and Catherine Ackroyd were the string quartet opening the show beautifully and providing wonderful backing throughout. Keith “Ched Cheesman (lead guitar), John Cambridge (drums), John Bentley (bass), Phil Keech (keyboards), Kristian Eastwood (lead vocals), Bobby Joyce (guitar and vocals) and Annabel Etheridge (vocals) were just fabulous, tight knit and clearly bouncing off one another and loving every minute of their performance. Keith “Ched” Cheesman played some of the most breath-taking solos on his guitar, just mind-blowing, add in his anecdotes (as he joined Mick Ronson in the local band The Rats back in 1968) and you realise what a privilege it was to see him on the stage. The band played 17 songs, including Jean Genie (Bowie), Jack and Dianne (John Mellencamp), Perfect Day (Reed) and Heroes (Bowie).
Mick Ronson died far too young at the age of 46, and although he was a “musician’s musician”, he is not as well-known as he should be and this show helps to shout his legacy to the roof tops. Mick Ronson is one of Hull’s heroes, a working-class lad who did well and mixed with other incredible musicians, however this is not just a story for Hull but one that any music lover would enjoy, three hours of stories, reminiscences, and the most incredible music. The programme states that this might be the show’s final run, if you get the chance to see it somewhere do not even hesitate just grab a ticket.