Theatre Review Night Collar Theatre Royal St Helens

This ‘larger than life’ comedy play, produced by Chantelle and Jane Joseph and directed by Chantelle Joseph was originally written in the late 80’s by Tony Furlong and Jimmy Power, two former cabbies and boy did they capture the hilarious antics that go on in the back of a cab to a tee.

Regal Entertainments who have previously staged this comedy play in 2010 and 2011 at Theatre Royal have brought it back to life again due to its popularity with the town.

The stage is set with a backdrop of streets in Liverpool with row upon row of houses, and the bottom half of a real black hackney cab positioned right in centre stage. ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ by Slade is playing from the cab radio, and many other tracks accompany the show this way.

Credit must be given to the sound effects (Conrad Kempsound technician) as throughout the show the sounds of the cab’s engine starting, pulling up, its radio and the cab intercom, not to mention Santa’s tummy woes were brilliantly depicted.

The scene is set on a typical eventful Christmas Eve, (scenery and costumes by Regal Entertainments Ltd) as cabbie played by the talented Liverpool actor John May who became famous during lockdown for his internet sensational character creations (‘Turkey Teeth and Kenny and Karen Corona who went on to appear in ‘Doctor Who, Tin Star, Coronation Street, and Casualty’) to name but a few of his vast work, is setting off on his evenings work to bring home the bacon to pay the ‘lecky meter’ and support his spendthrift girlfriend.

During his shift in his mates’ cab, this reliable cabbie encounters some very colourful fares along the way - if you prefer the air not to be blue, then this play is not for you. 

He encounters a naked member of a stag party left in a wheelie bin with nothing on but a ball and chain to hide his shame, a prostitute, a drunk couple in the middle of an argument with Santa Claus with tummy trouble, a wino, a widow, a Big Issue seller, a cancer patient and an Elvis impersonator with domestic woes and a disabled couple, who are not so disabled. Throughout the show, the cabbie displays annoyance, care and compassion and humour with his fares.

With all the shenanigans going on in the back of the cab by the end of the night  the cabbie has a headache, and the final straw ….. the cab finally breaks down and he has to ring for an Uber to get back home, to the sound of ‘Things can only get better’ by D-Ream.

The 4 other actors, Sam Jones-Arthur, John O’Gorman (who portrayed ‘Tommo’ in Brookside), Emma-Grace Arends and Jenna Sian O’Hara all play various roles and must be commended for their talent, but the standout actor for me was Jenna Sian O’Hare who played Flo, Arl Mary and the prostitute, she was brilliant and hilarious.

Credit to Mike Randolph stage manager, and wardrobe mistress Rebecca Quinn for the stars of the show to appear so believable. 

The theatre was full, the atmosphere was a happy one, the audience laughed and applauded all the way through and sang along to the music, it was obvious they’d had a happy evening of entertainment.

So I suggest you pull up too and see this production for yourself which runs until Sunday 6th October. 

Reviewer - Jill Mather

On - 27.09.25