Miserable Northern Play

 

Miserable Northern Play

10/6/25

The Woolgathers

 

There was an expectant buzz at The Little Theatre Birkenhead for the debut of ‘Miserable Northern Play’, written by Elliot Kinnear a Woolgathers society member.

The curtain opens on a minimalist set, stage right is rostra where we meet Bafta winning presenter Bijou Tambling-Goggin (Julia Gallagher), who is joined by writer Juliet Stride (Katie Meakin) and postmodernist director Jennifer Featheringston (Amy Marshall).  Bijou is interviewing them on the success on their awarding winning West End Play ‘Star Amongst the Scrapheap’. for her programme ‘Behind the Curtain’. Bijou suggests that they show footage of the play so the audience see what’s its all about.  

Set in the mining village of Scapton, written as a grim, weary, painfully-strike-obsessed northern mining town, that the writer describes as cruel Thatcherite Britain.  Bijou asks writer and director as it was such a grim northern play where they surprised at its success. Both Jennifer and Juliette insisted that West End audiences love grim northern plays, praising the cast for their outstanding performances, and the press for its support. Bijou returns once more to the footage. The play tells the tale of its star Billy Dumps (Jace Clark) a talented ambitious young musician, however he is written as the epitome of a young frustrated miserable northerner. His father Joe Dumps (Lee Crosbie) art loathing miner who loves to strike, a down trodden mam (Jane Wing) a bother Eddie Dumps (Mathew Johnston) who followed his dad and works at the local mine. His girlfriend Annie Hope (Aleczandra Wharton) encourages Billy to dream. ‘Star Amongst the Scrapheap’ contains similar elements to other successful northern plays, such as Billy Liar, Billy Elliot and Billy Casper in the wonderful Kez. Just to remind you Billy Dumps has a large stuffed bird attached to his left arm. Father Tom (Helen Brickwood) encourages Billy to enter a local ‘Talent Contest ’as a positive step for his future. Billy’s girlfriend Annie sees no future for her in Scapton, leaves for London, only to be brought back on a stretcher dead from a drugs overdose, reenforcing the evils of moving from the north to the south. Billy’s brother Eddie ‘comes out’ claiming his love for Bookshop Guy (Shaun Greatbanks) surprising everyone.  Billy becomes more and more dissatisfied with the role the script created for him, and the continued depiction that northerners are grim miserable people. He wants that to change, promoting a more positive, optimistic view of northerners. With the support of his family, and his father’s three miner friends Miner 1 (David Tolcher) Miner 2 (Kevin Roberts) Miner 3 (Paul Murray) they convince the cast of ‘Star Amongst the Scrapheap ‘to strike for an improved script. Then an ethereal soldier appears (Marc Smith) who apparently is not in the script, but supports Billy.

They confront the writer and the director in a court related scene, both eloquently supporting their reasons for the plays content. Each cast member gives their opinion of how the script continually typecast characters supporting the concept of the miserable northerner. After much deliberation an amicable solution is reached. The speeches however were long slowing down the pace unfortunately.

The director and writer Elliot Kinnear undoubtedly knew what he wanted for this clever, quirky comical script. The play within a play plot was well executed, with some good performances. I feel I need to mention Jace Clark and Lee Crosbie for their believable father and son relationship. It is a rare occasion when you have the opportunity to see a debut of a self-penned play live on-stage, well-done Woolgathers for supporting Elliot in what is his second play. I really enjoyed it as did the audience the evening I attended. Congratulations to all concerned.

 

Joanne Rymer

NODA

District 4

 

 

 

 

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