Reviewed by Matt Forrest

Opening Night verdict ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s a brave move to tackle the events surrounding a national tragedy as your debut production, yet debut writer/director Tom Cain has done just that with his play 97+. Working in partnership with the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance, Cain’s play looks at the traumatic effects that fateful day had on a group of survivors as well as a family still wrapped up in grief over the loss of loved ones.

Staged as a collaboration between Tom Cain Theatre and Bill Elms Productions, the play set in 2012, focuses on three separate stories which become interwoven with each other. First is John (Colin Kilbride) who was involved in the crush at the stadium, and, despite his best efforts, had a young man die in his arms. John, haunted by night terrors, seldom talks to anyone about his ordeal other than to his wife Liz (Claudia Molyneax), who tries to offer support, but is often rebuked by John. 

Next up is loner Steve (Leslie Longley), also a survivor of Hillsborough, suffering a different type of trauma – survivor’s guilt. Steve’s life has fallen apart through the break up of his marriage and alcoholism. A chance meeting between John and Steve leads to an unlikely friendship, as the pair try to support each other with their ordeal.

The final story is that of Sally (Lynne Fitzgerald) and Stuart (Graham Padden), a couple whose son died at Hillsborough. They are raising their granddaughter Charlotte (Alice McKillop); all are dealing with the loss of a son/father, as well as abuse relating to myths and lies about the tragedy. 

With the impending release of findings from the Hillsborough Independent Panel, the three different groups share their stories, in the hope that one day they will find peace, as well as justice, for not just those that lost their lives that day, but for those affected by one of the darkest days in our recent history.

Tom Cain’s script quite rightly doesn’t pull its punches, addressing issues of PTSD, injustice and police cover-ups. It’s clearly a personal project for Cain, whose grandfather was a Hillsborough survivor. Cain handles the subject with sensitivity and respect. The strength of the production lies in the hard-hitting personal testimonies of the characters, each done as a monologue. Colin Kilbride and Lesley Longley both put in powerful turns with harrowing accounts that will live long in the memory. 

The few opening night nerves were ironed out as the performance progressed, on an emotional night for all involved, including some audience members. This hard hitting piece of theatre clearly and impressively aims to inform, educate and shine a spotlight on the continued fight of the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance. A powerful, carefully crafted and hugely emotive production.

97+ was performed on Friday 12th April at the Olympia, Liverpool for more information head to https://linktr.ee/tomcaintheatre?