Theatre N16 has us dreaming of a bleak festive season by presenting Simon Stephens’ unrelenting Christmas. Set in a pub, four men discuss the tragedies of their lives, and find solace and conflict in each other. Despite the fact Stephens’ writing is always inherently good, one must question the relevance of this play at this time, and its lack of a clear message.The space at Theatre N16 fits the piece perfectly, complete with a working bar and “red and gold” wallpaper to suit. The set design is also appropriate as it kept very minimal, only a few bits of floppy tinsel and decoration hang from the walls. We are greeted with Michael McGraw, played solidly by Brendan Weakliam, who is suffering under the quash of financial strain and may have to close his beloved pub.
All the actors carry their characters with strength, in particular Jack Bence who plays Billy Lee Russell, a slurring damaged young man who seems destined to a life of pub-going. Bence perfectly embodies this, with brilliant boyish charm. Coupled with Christopher Sherwood, who plays Charlie Anderson, the two make an extremely dynamic pair. At the point of conflict in this play, where Charlie is goading Billy Lee with questions about his past, Bence and Sherwood work extremely well together to create some sharply tense moments.
Despite the very strong performances, I found the pace to be extremely slow. It felt as if the pauses were over-indulgent and slightly forced. Furthermore, the play has many potential themes; the disillusionment of the working class, Father/Son relationships, Male repression/depression but I’m not sure what theme director Sarah Chapleo had chosen, as the overall treatment of the play felt vague.
Overall Stephens’ writing has an inherent power, and the meticulous work of the actors is very admirable - but I found myself leaving having not learnt anything new. It's not as if we're short of drama about dysfunctional men.
Tatty Hennessy’s adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classictale THE SNOW QUEEN is Theatre N16’s alternative offering to the big commercial pantos. The production focuses on emphasizing the importance of the imagination and by doing so takes us on a journey of simplicity, joy and magic. Directed by Scott Ellis and Tatty Hennessy, THE SNOW QUEEN is a magnificent example of beautiful and unpretentious storytelling and is a must see for both adults and children.