Reviewed by Nikki Cotter
Opening Night verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Written by Siân Owen, this new production transports us to Manchester nightclub ‘Deja Vus’ on New Year’s Eve 1997. Midnight is fast approaching, New Labour and ‘Cool Britania’ are offering a sense of optimism, and, inside the club, the music is bangin’, the atmosphere’s beltin’ and the possibilities seem endless.
At the heart of this production are three young women, Polly, (Laura Robinson) Angie (Kaitlyn Akinpelumi and Jean (Bethan McLean) each arriving at the club with very different hopes, dreams and emotive back-stories. Angie and Polly are regulars at the club, part of the furniture so to speak and a friend to all, while Jean is an outsider struggling to find where she belongs. Their lives collide against a backdrop of 90s indie classics, creating a story that is as much about friendship and finding yourself as it is about the music.
For anyone who lived through the 90s, the live music is an absolute joy. As someone who was 19 on New Year’s Eve ’97, the production’s nostalgia was a massive draw for me, but Box of Tricks goes far beyond a simple trip down memory lane. Delivering a gritty, visceral piece that bursts with both heartbreak and hope.
The production draws on the era’s defining sound, tapping into a delicious back catalogue of tracks from indie legends including The Stone Roses, Oasis, Pulp, Radiohead and The Smiths to create an atmosphere that feels instantly familiar. The music quickly becomes part of the storytelling, helping to express the characters’ hopes, fears, complex relationships and need for escape.
Director Adam Quayle successfully brings to life Siân Owen’s vision of a club that feels like an entirely separate, magical world where anything is possible. Somewhere you can be anyone you want to be before morning arrives and the real life kicks you in the teeth. As DJ Spin Jim, actor-musician Darragh Cowley brilliantly anchors the production. He guides us through an indie-infused night where reality blurs into pure musical intoxication with enthusiasm and iconic Manc swagger.
The three central performances bring plenty of heart, the friendship between Angie and Polly, portrayed beautifully by Kaitlyn Akinpelumi and Laura Robinson providing the emotional core. An additional dramatic layer comes from Bethan McLean as Jean, a young Welsh woman trying to find her voice despite her controlling boyfriend, brilliantly played by Theo Woolford.
The show’s live music is performed by a hugely talented trio including Darragh Cowley and Theo Woolford who seamlessly pivot from their acting roles to join guitarist and vocalist L J Willow, forming an incredible live band who seamlessly become part of the nightclub environment.
Writer Siân Owen balances cleverly the euphoria of New Year’s Eve with the crushing reality of real life; amidst the celebrations are themes of loneliness, coercive control and domestic abuse, giving the production depth. What makes this production particularly effective is the way it captures that complex feeling of young adulthood, where the characters are young enough to believe anything is possible, but old enough to realise that life doesn’t always follow the soundtrack you imagined, but like the resilient Manchester spirit, hope always rises.
Energetic, nostalgic, funny, tender and packed with absolute tunes, How Soon Is Now? is a celebration of the 90s that manages to be much more than just a trip down memory lane. ‘Ave it!
How Soon Is Now? Is on at The Lowry until Saturday 3rd October tickets available here.
