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The Green, Green Grass of Home: Mr Jones An Aberfan Story - Finborough Theatre

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A life of hope and promise, interrupted, lies at the heart of Mr Jones: an Aberfan Story. The play follows two young people in Aberfan before and after the disaster that killed 144 people, including 116 children. It’s an emotional coming-of-age tale of intersecting lives, family, love, and the shock of tragedy. With two vivid performances and strong characterisations, you feel immersed in 1960s Welsh small-town life. It’s now running at the Finborough Theatre , after performances at the Edinburgh Festival and across Wales.  The Aberfan disaster is well known in the UK but perhaps less so elsewhere. The facts of the tragedy are confined to the programme notes rather than in the piece. On 21 October 1966, the catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip on a mountain above Aberfan engulfed a local school, killing many. The play avoids the causes and negligence, instead focusing on those working and building lives in the town.  Writer-performer Liam Holmes plays Stephen Jones, a...

Mad as hell and serving Cava: Derailed @Ovalhouse

Sometimes the best laid plans go awry. But when life gives you lemons make lemonade. Or in the case of Derailed at Oval House, make gazpacho. And serve Cava. 

The premise is that in the post-Brexit UK, they are heading back to Spain. But rather than leave downtrodden and defeated, they’re going to stage the mother of all leaving parties. 

The music blares, the party poppers fly and the party begins.

The piece opens with a series of photos from Patricia and Mercè‘s 12 years living in the UK. With the grey skies and dismal towns you start thinking Brexit wasn’t the only reason for their decision to leave.

And with a series of improvised scenarios you’ll find yourself live tweeting a petition, having a long hug with a complete stranger. Or wearing an unconvincing wig holding a banner protesting something. Along they way they chart some of their life in London and in Spain. 

The premise of Patricia Rodríguez and Mercè Ribot‘s work is to use physical theatre and improvision to create something funny and engaging. It’s sometimes silly but it’s always fascinating to watch.

Here they have turned 12 years of struggle into a celebration about what is great about life. Wherever you may be. And although the party in London may be ending, you get a sense they’ll continue the  party wherever they go.

Derailed is at Oval House Theatre as part of there Spring Season. It concludes on 3 March. Next up is This Restless State where in 2052 Europe is ravaged by a continental war and a referendum. The season concludes with Coconut, a comedy that challenges assumptions about Islam with a modern Muslim woman looking for love. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Photos by Ben MacIntosh

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