KES
New Theatre, Cardiff
Tue 24-Sat 28 Nov
“They beat him. They deprived him. They ridiculed him. They broke his heart. But they could not break his spirit,”
reads the film’s 1969 promotional poster. The words and the tale still resonate today as Kes marks its 40th year an-
niversary with a new, theatrical adaptation.
Adapted from Billy Hines’ novel, A Kestrel For A Knave, Kes is the bittersweet story of Billy Casper, a neglected
and mischievous young boy, growing up in the rough, northern mining town of Barnsley. Deserted by his father and
bullied both at home and at school, Billy is an outsider, forced to fight and steal to survive. He finds refuge in caring
for a kestrel chick, which he trains with the aid of a library book. The pair work together to soar above their troubles,
but Billy eventually finds himself suddenly and tragically brought back to earth. The story is very much a social com-
mentary, with Billy’s happiness and opportunities in life limited by poverty, and director Ken Loach translates this
onto the screen with tragic lucidity.
Loach’s film is renowned for its gritty realism and do not expect Kes’ emotional punch to be any less intense at the
New Theatre. Production team The Touring Consortium have already graced the venue with harrowing showings
of To Kill A Mockingbird and The Diary Of Anne Frank. The cast is equally formidable and includes Emmerdale’s
David Crellin and Katherine Dow Blyton from Hollyoaks. However, the real star of the show is relatively unknown
22-year-old, Stefan Butler, who plays Billy. Butler’s conveyance of the whimsical yet steely personality of the play’s
central character is nothing short of masterful. Indeed, The Guardian described the young actor’s performance in
the Liverpool Playhouse as “outstanding”.
stage
The nature of Billy Hines’ story lends itself kindly to dramatic form and, under the clever guidance of Nikolai Foster, a
talented Danish director who grew up near Barnsley, the experienced cast will almost certainly put on a truly moving
play for all ages. Tickets: £8-£24. Info: 029 2087 8889 / www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk JOE WALTERS
HOT MIKADO PORRIDGE THE GLASS MENAGERIE SPYMONKEY’S MOBY DICK
Aberystwyth Arts Centre New Theatre, Cardiff Sherman Theatre, Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Tue 3-Sat 7 Nov Tue 3-Sat 7 Nov Tue 10-Sat 14 Nov Mon 2-Wed 4 Nov
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Prison living must be a right old larf, “Every cloud has a silver lining” is a Describing their performance as “a
Horwood brings his sell-out show Hot mustn’t it? All the chaps bunking down phrase beloved by all those perma-smiling glorious mis-telling of the Herman Melville
Mikado to the Aberystwyth Arts Centre for together, fun and frolics at shower time, berks whose brains are apparently of such novel,” Moby Dick is set to be a chaotic
five days in the early part of this month. meals fixed for you, never short of players monatomic tininess that they completely comedy celebrating this classic novel.
The Strictly judge’s contemporary take on for a bit of five-a-side, and – best of all fail to comprehend what an awful mess of The story unfolds as four whalers find
the Gilbert & Sullivan classic has enjoyed – blissful sanctuary from all that familial despair, inequality and chewing gum-splat- themselves trapped in the belly of a
a sell-out run at The Watermill Theatre, nagging. I reckon you’d be as happy as a tered pavements that everyday existence literary monster. As they ponder the
Newbury, and Revel Horwood boasts that dog supping out of a just-visited toilet – so actually is. However in the case of Tennes- irony of their fate they begin to recount
it contains “the most amazing actors long as you could successfully avoid any see Williams this ludicrous banality actu- the story of Moby Dick, which becomes
you’ll ever see in your life.” horrifically grisly Oz-style shankings. In ally seems to bear the faint ring of truth embellished with their own fantastical
For those hearing about Hot Mikado for fact, I might go knock over the corner shop about it. For while the life of the legendary tales. The novel’s epic examination of
the first time, let Buzz fill you in. The right now, in order to get myself fitted up playwright was blighted by family tragedy good, evil, fate and obsession becomes
story is set in Japan. Musician Nanki-Poo for a natty, arrow-stitched set of threads. and addictions to drink and drugs, these lost on them. But surprisingly is then
is searching for his true love Yum-Yum, but The full joys of penitentiary existence miseries at least provided Williams with mysteriously found on them once more.
he soon finds out that she is due to marry arrive at the New Theatre this November, the raw materials with which he could But there are questions that remain: Will
someone else – and so the plot thickens. as telly classic Porridge is transferred to stock his prodigious dramatic output. Ahab’s thirst for revenge be unhinged
Revel Horwood is proud to have turned the stage under the aegis of original series The Glass Menagerie is one of Williams’ by the inept attentions of his crew? Now
the “old-fashioned operetta into a vampy, writers Dick Clement and Iain la Fresnais. most famous works and was also his first that he has found true love, is Ishmael
hot, sexy, swingy, rhythm and blues, Kill Centring on the travails of Ronnie Barker’s success following years of struggle, hit- still fated to be the sole survivor of the
Bill, crazy, absurdist musical.” habitual lag Norman Stanley Fletcher, ting big in 1945. Set in St. Louis in 1937, Pequod? Can a mermaid figurehead get
The show has received rave reviews across Porridge spawned three acclaimed series the play revolves around the impover- pregnant? And what does a cannibal
the board, and no wonder. As well as between 1974 and 1977, as well as a ished Wingfields; delusional matriarch harpoonist from Bavaria eat?
having the Strictly judge choreographing movie and spinoff show Going Straight, Amanda, ambitious yet frustrated son Spymonkey’s award-winning brand of
and directing the production, they have and this new stage version sees Barker’s Tom, and troubled, sickly daughter Laura. comedy is said to be a 21st-century mix
an award-winning musical director. Sarah sizeable shoes filled by legally-obligated- Interloping into this family environment of Fawlty Towers, the Marx brothers and
Travis, who won a Tony Award for Best to-refer-to-him-as-Barry-from-Eastenders is gentleman caller Jim, the novelty of Mel Brooks.
Orchestration for Sweeney Todd in New actor Shaun “Barry from Eastenders” whose presence suddenly raises hopes but This is a co-production with the Royal
York, has worked her magic once again for Williamson. The theatrical take on the also threatens to dash dreams. The Glass & Derngate Northampton and has been
Hot Mikado. antics of Fletcher seems certain to Menagerie was a deeply personal work developed with the support of The
The impressive cast includes original adhere closely to its spawning small- for Williams, with Laura Wingfield being Showroom at Chichester University and
members Robin Colyer, Neil Ditt, Jeffrey screen incarnation, with the cynical felon based on his own sister Rose, and aspiring The Point, Eastleigh. Since their formation
Harmer and Karen Mann. Tickets: £12- attempting to inject some grey realism into writer Tom bearing the same given first in 1997, Spymonkey have built a huge
£16. Info: 01970 623232 / www.aber. the sunnier worldview of youthful cellmate name as the playwright himself. And this international following in 20 countries, with
ac.uk/artscentre (LJ) Godber, as well as getting one over on Clwyd Theatr Cymru production looks set sell-out shows at Just For Laughs Festival
petty tyrant warder Mr. Mackay. Tickets: to bring out the empathetic power that re- Montreal, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne
from £7.50. Info: 029 2087 8889 / www. sides within Williams’ words. Tickets: from Comedy Festival and London’s Leicester
newtheatrecardiff.co.uk (PM) £12 (under-19s £8). Info: 029 2064 6900 Square Theatre. Tickets: £8-£12. Info: 08700
/ www.shermancymru.co.uk (PM) 402000 / www.wmc.org.uk (DLB)
BUZZ 42
NOVEMBER 2009.indd 42 28/10/09 10:37:48
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