Shed
Jayne and I just spent two and a half hours sitting in a shed listening to two blokes reminiscing.
Now if that sounds a bit of a strange way to spend an evening, allow me to explain …and maybe it will shed a bit of light on what we were doing!
I have to say, it was a very comfortable shed, with good food, plenty of drink and several hundred people for company, who were also listening to the two blokes reminiscing.
It was, of course, the auditorium at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool and the “shed” was actually the stage set for a brand new play of that name written by actors Paul Broughton and Michael Stark, and the show’s director Bob Eaton.
Paul and Michael, who have performed alongside each other many times, including several appearances at The Royal Court, had been kicking the storyline around for quite some time, until last year they got together with director Bob Eaton and developed it into a full blown script.
It is a comedy that certainly goes a little deeper and is less ‘slapstick’ than the Court’s usual offerings, funny and easy to watch but with a dark side and an unexpected twist.
We see the interaction between two blokes whose lives had taken different paths and how they deal with resentment, jealousies and unresolved issues after not having contact during the intervening years.
The two carried off their parts really well, interacting and bouncing off one another as you would expect of actors who have been pals since way back when they were in Channel 4’s soap opera Brookside together.
It is a tale about personal interaction and friendship. There are plenty of laughs woven in amongst the more serious issues. As such, it nods respectfully to the scouse Royal Court audience, yet warrants being emblazoned with both of the “theatre masks”, Tragedy and Comedy. The script is good and the acting is good.
Dead good, like!
The Shed is well worth seeing, but hurry, you’ve only got until the 9th May.
Stalls tickets are available with a meal (served at your table before the show) for an extra £10
Tickets are available for the show alone in stalls, circle and balcony.
Circle and balcony will open at 7.30pm. There are bars in both areas for pre-show and interval drinks.
If you are bringing a large group, every tenth ticket is free.
£1 from every ticket bought will be donated to The Royal Court Liverpool Trust. For more details go to www.royalcourttrust.org
