| performance details | Venue: York Theatre Royal Dates: 23 Sept - 7 Oct 2006 Tickets: £8.00 - £18.00 Box office: 01904 623568 |
My friend Martina and I went to York Theatre Royal, to see Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads. I was slightly unsure what the play was about. I knew it involved football and racism, so it might not be exactly genteel. It turned out I was right, it is about football, Saturday 7th October, England v Germany - the last match at the old Wembley Stadium. A group of regulars from The King George pub meet to watch the World Cup qualifying game. It is not genteel. | "this play will drag you from any comfort zone you may be currently inhabiting, and you will not go quietly, you will be dragged kicking and screaming" | |
This remarkable piece of theatre has too many layers to peel away in a mere review, I could never do it the justice it deserves. I must offer a word of warning, this play will drag you from any comfort zone you may be currently inhabiting, and you will not go quietly, you will be dragged, kicking and screaming, and will be given a good emotional and mental kicking. I felt more uneasy as the play progressed. I grew up in East London, I am West Ham till I die. I have heard people parrot the views held by the malevolent character Alan, played by the stunning Deka Walmsley. Although I was 250 miles away from my birthplace, I felt uncomfortably as if I had been transported home. Such is the power of writer Roy Williams, he either has supernatural powers and can see into the darkness that inhabits some souls, or he is a very gifted writer. I think he may be a cunning mix of the two. In Sing Yer Heart Out For The Lads he has created something astonishingly and shockingly brave. It is emotive, there can be no lying, the language is coarse and vulgar, you will be distinctly uncomfortable, appalled and completely enthralled. There are, however, moments that will make you laugh - at one point you see a body part that can only be described as a flabby pudding. The opening scene in the second half will have you choking on your ice-cream. It took me a couple of seconds to comprehend the words that were going into my ears. They left me shaken and squirming in my seat. This opening dialogue is based on fact, although writer Roy Williams says it was toned down. As the tension mounts, the atmosphere becomes sinister and claustrophobic, and by the heartbreaking climax, my shoulders were rigid with tension, and I was overcome with a profound feeling of sadness. So you have been warned, if you are of a delicate disposition, stay at home and watch Eastenders, and have a nice cup of tea and pretend everything will be fine. Because this play does not tie the story up in a neat, tidy package, it hurts to watch, it hurts a lot. The last line of the play, Lee shouts to Barry, "Don't lose yerself". How can he not? Because Barry's skin is dark he is not allowed to be his self. I know that is wrong, and thankfully so does Roy Williams, he has a voice, what he has to say is not pretty, it's not nice, but f**k it's clever. Go and see it if yer hard enough. Wendy Barton-O'Neill | 
