Fighting The Peace: When Soldiers Return
Plus, the best of what's on around the region Feb 1-7, 2025
Last week, film director Quentin Tarentino said this:
“What the fuck is a movie now? Something that plays in theatres for a token release for four fucking weeks, and by the second week you can watch it on television? I didn’t get into all this for diminishing returns… It was bad enough in… 2019, and that was the last fucking year of movies….
“Theatre? You can’t do that. Theatre? Yeah, I pay a lot of fucking money to get in that seat. But there’s no fucking taping it, there’s no fucking cellphones… You own the audience for that time. For that moment they are all yours. They are in the palm of your hand.
“And it’s not just about doing art. It’s about wowing them. It’s about giving them a great night out that made it worth it for them. Now that for me is fucking exciting.”
Isn’t this a magnificent manifesto for live theatre? Tarentino says he’s writing a stage play now, and I can’t wait to see it.
Small-scale, big dreams
Meanwhile tiny and cash-strapped though they are, York-based community company Inspired By Theatre are releasing their own seven-part documentary film series on YouTube. No Day But Show Day: The Road to RENT goes behind the scenes in the run-up to the performance of Jonathan Larson’s popular musical, which takes place at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre Apr 10-12 (£19).
The series is directed by the University of York's Emily O’Gorman, following her tenure at National Geographic at The Walt Disney Company, with cinematography by fellow student, Mia Scudds. Even if only their mums end up watching it, it’s still a great example of how many born-digital theatre-makers, not withstanding Tarentino, regard innovative multi-platform working as integral to their product. Watch the trailor here.
The Best Of Feb 1-7
With theatre emerging from the January doldrums let’s take a look at shows happening around the region in this upcoming week. Here’s MY highlights list. You are welcome to disagree in the comments.
TOP PICK: A returning soldier discovers his hardest battle is still to be fought. It’s a story as old as military conflict but given a dark spin in Philip Stokes’ two-handed thriller Shellshocked. Set in the Leeds suburb of Morley, it stars the Playhouse’s own Lee Bainbridge alongside Leeds City College-trained Jack Stokes, and is chock full of references to the local area. Harrogate Theatre Feb 1, £14 (last few), Bramall Rock Void, Leeds Playhouse, Feb 5-8, £15, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield, Feb 11 & 12, £15.
Then, in no particular order:
Finding Faith
The substantial West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield experienced outlandish violence in recent years as British-Pakistani gangs fought a turf war to control the lucrative heroin pipeline into the Northern England (BBC). The town has also been the scene of significant grooming gang activity (BBC). As I’ve delved into widely available first-hand accounts and local reports, I’ve become convinced that the corrupting effect of organised-crime has been an insufficiently explored aspect of Yorkshire’s (and, indeed, the nation’s) rape-gang culture. Yet this, with its attendant social ills, is a powerful explainer (alongside misogyny) of why police and local councils at times moved so slowly, refusing to see what was staring them in the face.
Notwithstanding the Royal Court London’s recent Expendable, which is mostly written from the perspective of powerless Pakistani women caught up in the atrocity, the theatrical response to the mafia on our doorstep has been — crickets. We still haven’t had the mainstage play which focusses on the raped and tortured girls.
There’s much to be said on this subject, and I will say it in Part Two of my Substack The Mafia And Me: A Journey Into Silence. In the meantime, we have this: Shahid Iqbal Khan’s 10 Nights at Hudderfield’s Lawrence Batley Theatre. The British-Pakistani writer’s comedy is mostly a sincere account of finding faith but also hints at the spiritual smugness and downright hypocrisy of members of his community. That, for the moment, will have to do. Feb 4 & 5, £16.
Go Girl
On a happier note — somewhat after the manner of the boisterous rock musical Six, Mary And The Hyenas (Hull Truck Theatre, Feb 7-Mar 1, £10-£29.50) tells the story of feminist pioneer Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797). Mary was a local girl, growing up in the historic Wolds town of Beverley. In adult life she scandalised the nation with her political radicalism and unorthodox private life. She died giving birth to Frankenstein author Mary Shelley.
The world-premiere production is presented in association with York-based Pilot Theatre and later moves to Wilton’s Music Hall, London (Mar 18-29, £11-£28)
A Haunting
Opera North are good at Wagner. You can still find their Ring Cycle online if you have a spare weekend and enough snacks. This week’s other big opening is The Flying Dutchman. In this updated version, director Annabel Arden reimagines the endlessly wandering ghost mariner as a refugee in conflict with the Home Office. Refugees aren’t exactly popular at the moment* but never mind, the sets are by Joanna Parker and they look great. Leeds Grand Theatre, in repertoire Feb 1-21 (£15-83) then Newcastle, Salford, Nottingham, Hull New Theatre, Mar 28 (£16-£51).
* and neither is the Home Office
Hamilton!
Lin-Manuel Miranda's innovative musical Hamilton has its fan base, and the UK touring production is currently to be found at Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre, to Mar 15, £27.75 - £92.75.
A Nigerian Classic
Nobel-Prize-winning Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka has strong links with this region. He studied at Leeds University and developed an artistic relationship with the (then) West Yorkshire Playhouse. A veteran political trouble-maker in his home nation, I well remember the sinister group of West African heavies at a performance of The Beatification Of The Area Boy in Leeds when the Generals were still in charge. I don’t think they were there out of literary enthusiasm! Now, in association with National Portfolio Organisation Utopia Theatre, Sheffield Theatres carries the baton - their joint production of Solyinka’s Death And The King’s Horseman is rich in Yoruba culture and spirituality. Crucible Theatre, Feb 3-8, £15-£33.
Last Chance
The only remaining Yorkshire date for Bull, Mike Bartlett’s savage expose of the LinkedIn classes is at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre on Feb 1 (£15, in the Round). If you’ve ever suspected that an anthropologist or, better still, a primatologist like Jane Goodall might offer better behavioural insights at your workplace than a productivity specialist, this one’s for you. It’s dark, but worth travelling for.
Ouch!
Joe Gallard is a tech CEO who “dabbles in a bit of writing”. Diary Of A Hustler is his first long-form play and tells of an aspiring podcaster who is convinced that only endless grind lies between himself and greatness. It’s a reminder that you don’t need vast resources to get a play staged — just a good idea, some entrepreneurial spirit and chutzpah. Seven Arts, Leeds, Feb 7, £11.
Finally: By sharing this Substack you help me get it in front of as many eyes as possible, which makes Yorkshire Theatre Newsletter more sustainable. I would be so happy if you took a moment to do so. Thank you. Liz x