Tag Archives: Barney Norris

Gundog

Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, London (***)

© Manuel Harlan, Ria Zmitrowicz (Becky), Alec Secareanu (Guy) - it's tough out there on the land...

© Manuel Harlan, Ria Zmitrowicz (Becky), Alec Secareanu (Guy) – it’s tough out there on the land…

How lost can you feel in the countryside? According to Simon Longman’s new play, Gundog, a good deal. Longman’s rural family of shepherds are a sad lot. There’s Becky – school drop-out, couldn’t see the point of learning anything, `they don’t do lessons in shepherding’ – Anna, her older sister, quiet, monosyllabic, dependable.  And Ben, their angry, troubled brother, who turns up from time to time having been away but forced to return. He has no skills, other than being on the land. Continue reading

Trestle

Southwark Playhouse, London ****

© Robert Workman, Connie Walker as Denise, zumba teacher and Gary Lilburn as committee man and widower, Harry.

© Robert Workman, Connie Walker as Denise, zumba teacher and Gary Lilburn as committee man and widower, Harry.

Up and down the land there are ordinary people living unexceptional lives. And now and then, a writer suddenly pops up who appears to capture perfectly the quiet, unsung, invisible lives of millions of people. Continue reading

While We’re Here

Bush Theatre Studio, London (****)

© Mark Douet, Andrew French (Eddie) and Tessa Peake-Jones (Carol)

© Mark Douet, Andrew French (Eddie) and Tessa Peake-Jones (Carol)

Walking back from the Bush the other evening, I glanced back at the Green and remembered the years when the one-room `Bush’ hovered above a far from welcoming pub, up some uncomfortable and cranky stairs. For years and years. Continue reading

Eventide

Arcola Theatre, London (**)

© Mark Douet

© Mark Douet

Barney Norris’ Neighbours was one of the sleeper successes of last year, a beautifully judged rhapsody on a theme of marital/family despair and dementia in the countryside. It garnered awards galore after its success at the Bush. But it started out life here at Mehmet Ergen’s Arcola `powerhouse’ in Dalston. Continue reading