I have to admit, I am always just a little bit nervous when watching a performance by students of the Theatre And Performance course at Manchester's Arden School Of Theatre, since this course allows the students to push the normally accepted boundaries of theatre and almost create their own rules as to what the next generation of theatre-makers will produce. Sometimes I find their ideas unrelatable or they go against everything I have learnt and practised myself as both an actor and director - but I am told that is the whole point of this course. However, I need not have worried, this production by the course's current second year students was the most accessible, relatable, and indeed enjoyable I have witnessed from students on this course in a very long time.
The students were tasked with finding a non-theatre site-specific performance space and creating a theatrical experience that responds to that site. Choosing Castlefield Viaduct seemed like a gift from the Gods, as it gave them ample scope to mention not just the recent history of the Industrial Revolution, but also the beginnings of the city as Mamucium, (the Roman fort and settlement), and everything in between. Manchester (and Salford) have been a fertile ground for producing men and women of prominence and excellence in many different fields of endeavour and they focussed on four of them throughout this 50 minute presentation - Friedrich Engels, LS Lowry, Emmeline Pankhurst, and Marie Stopes. Starting with these four characters interacting with the Roman ruins, we strolled through the regenerated viaduct (last used as a railway line in 1969) led by both these four characters (Deacon Galimore, Finlay Briars, Nika Irwine, and Emma Grave), a tour guide (Iris Bell), and various "experts" (Christopher Mountain, Lee Fletcher, Kate Dixon, and Hanna Larouci), a banner and a song! We learned about many famous Mancunians and about the history of that specific area, without it being a lecture. There was humour, and time for reflection, and it was nicely paced. The "tour" ended seated in a circle, learning a short song together, whilst eating a piece of cake and enjoying a cup of tea! Highly civilised!
My only one negative criticism would be the chiming of a hand-gong - used throughout - which signified that a tram or train was passing and we should wait and watch them before continuing with the narrative. This became a little off-putting and annoying. Yes, the trams and trains were noisy, but we are standing on a disused train line right next to the current one in the centre of Manchester, there is bound to be a lot of noise. Could the performers not have raised their voices? Had microphones? Surely there was a better way around this slight problem. Otherwise, though, this was an excellently thought-through, entertaining and informative production.
Oh, and I have planted the sweat pea and it seems to be thriving!
Reviewer - Alastair Zyggu
on - 3.4.25
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