ONCE WE WERE MOTHERS. To 18 September.

Newcastle Under Lyme

ONCE WE WERE MOTHERS
by Lisa Evans

New Vic Theatre To 18 September
Mon-Wed;Fri-Sat 7.30pm Mat Sat 2.30pm
BSL Signed 15 September
Talkback 15 September
Runs 2hr 30min One interval

TICKETS: 01782 717962
Review: Ranjit Khutan 3 September

A powerful, superbly written new play.In staging this premiere the New Vic breaks away from the well known plays that it has become known and loved for by local people. However, they've chosen a hard hitting, wonderfully written and well researched piece by award winning theatre, radio and television writer Lisa Evans.

Once we were mothers contains three powerful stories that show the heartbreak motherhood brings to three very different women. Ali's life path was determined for her she was always going to be a dancer but giving birth to a Downs Syndrome baby changes her life and leads her to challenge her views, her own mother's perfectionist attitudes and those of others.

Kitty the careful housewife waits patiently for her daughter to return. As the years pass entrapment in her own thoughts grows deeper. Milena lives a perfect life in Yugoslavia, until the tensions of war hit the country, her family, friendships and ultimately her soul.

Director Gwenda Hughes allows each story to be given its own space while overlaps, where characters from the other two stories look on, symbolise the shared experiences of motherhood, adding depth to the piece.

The cast is well chosen (all but Sarah Gordy, are known to the New Vic from past productions) and are powerful in portrayal of their characters, maintaining their energy throughout the piece.

Sarah Gordy (herself Downs Syndrome) is marvellous as Flora adding humour as well as allowing us to empathise with her character.

The play is deeply moving from beginning to end, and despite the many emotional layers that are cleverly woven into the piece there is room for laughter.

Jeanette: Alison Darling
Flora: Sarah Gordy
Gwen: Tina Gray
Nevenka: Tess Mawle
Kitty: Hazel Maycock
Ali: Janice McKenzie
Doctor/Teacher/Tajib: Dominic Meir
Milena: Paula Stockbridge

Director: Gwenda Hughes
Designer: Jess Curtis
Lighting: Daniella Beattie
Sound: James Earl-Davis

2004-09-06 03:34:04