Having returned from its run at The Edinburgh Fringe
Festival this show comes to the studio at the Royal Exchange and almost
immediately sold out all but one evening show. As a result they have now added
an additional matinee on Tuesday 25th September.
As we enter the studio Julie Hesmondhalgh,
best known for her role as ‘Hayley’ in Coronation Street, is chatting easily with the audience. This is
a one woman show and Hesmondhalgh narrates the story of the inhabitants of
Preston Road, effortlessly and beautifully bringing to life this imaginary
setting so that we are fully immersed from the outset. This show wonderfully
exhibits the concept that the ‘audience will go with you’ and that the trappings
of conventional theatre are not always necessary as Hesmondhalgh describes the
characters from her story using only their shoes, which she sometimes has to
hand and sometimes borrows from the unsuspecting audience. It is testament to
her ability to communicate with her audience as they willingly hand over their
own shoes to ‘play’ a role within the piece. This has its ups and downs as some
people take longer to take off their shoes than others and Hesmondhalgh fills
the dead air with witty quips to ensure we don’t lose interest, this serves to
add to the piece and fosters a camaraderie within the room.
It is a cold December night on Preston Road
when, at precisely 4.40am time stands still for the protagonists Tom and Sara
who have, until now been romantically unsuccessful. It is a
story of love, of hope, of life and ensuring we live it all to the full and
“cram it all in”. It is like a masterclass in storytelling as Hasmondhalgh
performs with ease and warmth, making every one of us feel like she is telling
the story to us, she makes direct eye contact with the audience and we, in
turn, sit attentively drinking it all in, hanging on her every word. She
commands the space with skill, clearing enjoying the language and narrative
exquisitely written by her husband Ian Kershaw. It veers from observational
humour reminiscent of Victoria Wood to the pathos of Talking Heads. It is a
joyful theatrical experience which moved me and many others to tears in its
final few minutes as we are asked to imagine what would define our time on this
earth.
I have no doubt the few tickets left will go very quickly and so I urge
you to act quickly as this is a piece which is not to be missed.
Reviewer - Kerry Kawai
on - 21/9/18
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