Written by Jane Thornton and Martha Godper
Directed by Jane Thornton
HOME MCR
We all love a good night out with friends especially if celebrating a birthday. Fun times and hijinks before heading home to blow out the candles on our favourite cake with our nearest and dearest. This production narrates just such a night out in great detail but in this story, it is a human life that is extinguished instead of those birthday candles. The John Godper Company have worked closely with community charity One Punch Hull who raise awareness of just how lethal one single punch can be. This dynamic and deliberately punchy drama has a strong focus on education and is clearly intended as a piece that can successfully tour schools to promote the charity’s message STOP. THINK. WALK AWAY.
The three strong cast narrate the story of Reece as the Paramedics who were called to a horrific incident. This young man is celebrating his birthday in a very ordinary, everyday manner. There are multiple caterpillar cakes from a loving partner and a doting Mum, a day at work followed by drinks with his best mates and a planned taxi home to kiss his young daughter goodnight. Sadly in this drama this happy day reaches a shocking and desperately unhappy conclusion. A single drunken punch from his best mate Connor fells the birthday boy and the subsequent bang to his head has devastating consequences. Two loving parents and his partner and a small child lose a loved one and a young man loses his best mate and his liberty.
Image credit: Ian Hodgson
The simple staging is strikingly effective hinting at a boxing ring edged with police hazard tape and a few beer crates. The multi coloured back screen lighting panels suggest a nightclub and ultimately the stained glass illuminating a church funeral. George Reid, Ellis Basford and Camille Hainsworth-Staples play multiple roles as they both narrate the events but also act out the events taking on the roles of Reece and Connor as well as the parents and Reece’s partner. This is a demanding feat especially in such an emotive story based on real events where the writers and the cast have worked closely with the parents of Scott Akester on whom this production is based. George Reid delivers a particularly impressive performance moving between his roles especially when performing as the father where he really shines.
Writers Jane Thornton and Martha Godper have clearly endeavoured to write a piece of theatre that can deliver on a range of levels. Using a lot of rhyming ensures the piece flows well and is accessible to a range of ages and backgrounds. They have created a piece of theatre sensitive to the true story behind the narrative while maintaining a realism that does not sugarcoat the message. People get drunk for all sorts of reasons whether in celebration or commiseration and anything in between. People can be happy drunks or funny drunks or sad or angry drunks. We cannot definitively predict outcomes but we can try to safeguard against some risks. This play highlights the potentially deadly impact of toxic masculinity when fueled by alcohol and adrenaline. The heartfelt request from the family of Scott Akester is simple…Stop. Think. Walk Away.
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