written and directed by Joe Walsh.
Raw, gritty, humorous and emotional; the perfect mix to raise awareness of the severity of homelessness in our society.
Review by Jayne Skudder
On entering the Way Studio, we were drawn into life on the streets of Manchester, the sounds and distractions, living amongst the debris of the city; a fort- a mock up home to provide a shelter from the elements. There, Barney sits, as if oblivious to the chaos surrounding him, silently going about his daily business, wandering around the space and coming back to his position. This elongated silence works to illustrate the monotony of his life and the human routine we cling to when seeking solace and safety.
Sound plays a big role in this play, with a great choice of music and audio to set the scene, providing news and interviews regarding homelessness. Over 230,000 homeless people inhabit the streets of Manchester and numbers are on the rise. Are they really just numbers?
We instantly feel invested in the characters of Barney, Sarah and Derek, such was the fine honing of their characterisation. These talented actors portray real, salt of the earth people and bring the realisation that every individual on the streets has a tale to tell.
Frozen Peas in an Old Tin, skilfully written and directed by Joe Walsh, holds a mirror to society and its preconceptions about homeless people; exploring the reactions of those more privileged. Derinda, Sarah’s old school friend, spouts about how they clutter the streets, looking unclean and untidy, when they should go out and get themselves jobs. Is it really that simple?
It is heartwarming and sobering to bear witness to the lives of our three protagonists, with their toilet talk and northern banter. They bicker, laugh and love, with a true family dynamic.
There is a true human element running through this play, reminding us that we all have the same basic needs and this doesn’t stop because of where you live. Something as small as being gifted a sanitary pad is a truly touching gesture, to Sarah and through this she is reminded that someone is looking out for her.
Sarah played flawlessly by Lulu Marsh is a feisty character, who takes no prisoners: racked by grief at the loss of her sister-played by Hope Yolanda who moves effortlessly between a range of believable characters.
A grief stricken Barney, naturally performed by Kyle Rowe, provides a love interest for Sarah. Rowe offers great comedy timing and well paced delivery, to portray a loveable-if not so quick on the uptake- lad who lost his way in life. His romance with Sarah is a beacon of hope in an otherwise harrowing existence.
Derek played by Will Travis, with the utmost attention to detail provided a kind of father figure to Sarah and Barney, looking out for them and giving them hope of another life. He provides great humour as he shares his ‘Waterstones’ toilet experiences, amidst delivering witty one liners, like it’s second nature. His final touching monologue made the hairs on the back of my neck tingle and brought a tear to my eye. He truly harnessed the emotion and loneliness in this moment.
Full of light and shade, this play invites us to laugh and cry along with the characters and their plight to raise money to get the train to Southport. Derek’s dream of starting a band, using anything to hand, gave them purpose and in the end was the ultimate gift to get Barney and Sarah off the streets.
Breaking the fourth wall, the gig allowed us to live and breath the moment, witness the comedy of suddenly being faced with a crowd of people and no Derek, to feel the vulnerability of Sarah as she falls back on her sister’s memory to serenade us with ‘Sitting on the Dock of The Bay’.
A humbling piece of theatre, delivering the message home in such an entertaining way.
Would you like to help? Please donate to Homeless Aid UK
