Back to Basics

As it happens, Happiness Patrol turn out to be a bit flipping clever. In all fairness, I have seen a couple of Philip Holyman's (writer, director) works before and so shouldn't be surprised that they pulled it off - with ingenuity, intrigue and very little infrastructure.

It occurred to me later, in the bar (place of many great revelations ...) that, in fact, this is a great production not despite the lack of cast, crew, set, big sparkly effects etc, but because of. It completely and utterly employs and engages your imagination. It is, essentially, brilliant visual story-telling. Now this, to me, is what theatre has always done best - offered a space for your mind to play, to become involved in a story; an imaginary world that, actually, you help to create - if guided deftly by a strong pen.

(Philip Holyman: Writer/ Director/ Plague Victim/ Manservant/ Death. Nice combo)

And it's pretty clear that Mr Holyman indeed wields an adroit one. His writing is always vivid and eloquent, so coupled with the assured, compelling performance of Gareth Nicholls (creative associate) I was left feeling that that's all you really need. Great writing and a great performance. Job done.

Sadly, there is still a mass exodus of dramatic talent that continually streams away from the regions to London - with the understandable reasoning being the well-established strength of its theatrical infrastructure. Having seen talented, small-scale local companies like The Happiness Patrol, however, I'm tempted to say sod infrastructure. Give me ingenuity and imagination instead, any day.