"Home"

“In the postcard-perfect village of Oakworth the station platform has been readied for a new generation of spirited young arrivals”.   Thus reported the Daily Telegraph on the day of my visit. They referred, of course, to the recently-released film “The Railway Children Return”  but delete the word “station” and the quotation could easily have referred to the latest production by this group of talented young people. 

As you would expect, some of them are more experienced than others; for some this was their last show before moving on, hopefully maintaining their interest in theatre, whilst another was making her stage debut.  The play itself had been 2 years in its planning and was a rather challenging story, written by one of the leadership team, concerning a rather dysfunctional family and the shortcomings of a single parent plagued by a reliance on alcohol.  Not an inappropriate theme for a production staged in a Methodist church! 

Natallia Cooper gave an excellent performance as the mother, sometimes arousing despair at her failings but sometimes earning sympathy at the hand which fate had dealt her. The story recounted how eldest daughter Billie takes on the role of substitute parent and carer for her siblings, in the end applying to the court for and being granted parental responsibility, alongside her sister, Mia. Tam Wilson and Hannah Woollett played these parts well. 

Another of the daughters, Izzy, was portrayed as being on the autistic spectrum and it was clear from her performance that Matilda Wilson in this role had keenly observed behaviour typical of those living with autism. Wearing a different hat, I am a member of the National Autistic Society, with some experience of such matters and was impressed by her fine performance.  Bella Curtis as another daughter, Tyler, conveyed something of the frustrations which come from life with a less than satisfactory parent.

A number of other parts were spread around members of the group and, although many were played with confidence, sadly, and reluctant though I am to criticise, there were instances where lines were rushed, delivered with little thought for their meaning or not always clearly audible. You might have only a few lines in the whole play but enjoy your opportunity of delivering those words and what might be only a few seconds when you have the audience’s attention.  No doubt those to whom I refer were fairly new to what is, after all, a young people’s group, perhaps a little nervous and will improve as their confidence grows through greater experience. The story is told in a large number of short scenes, sometimes of only a few lines and so those responsible for sound and lighting are to be congratulated on all their hard work in following their respective plots.

There is no doubt that this group offers an excellent outlet for these happy and enthusiastic young people to learn theatre skills and to pursue an interest which, as in the case of a lady whose 60 years on the stage was celebrated at a concert I recently attended, can last a lifetime.  Success at sport has its place but is often more short-lived.

My colleague Sally Holmes and NODA Youth Co-ordinator, Jo Sykes, usually support this group but both were unavailable for this production.  I enjoyed the opportunity to meet these young people and their leaders and shall follow their progress with interest.             

              

            

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.