BrumHour was invited to Reparation Island by Birmingham Hippodrome.
By Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour
Reparation Island at
Birmingham Hippodrome
Directed by Christopher Elmer-Gorry
Featuring Baz Barrett, Steven Cokayne, Kevin Hanbury, Mark Howell, Tim Seeley, Laura Tipper, Jamie Weller, Amy Whistance, Matt Wightman, Rachael Yarrington, Scott Yarrington and featuring video of Ifraz Sohail.
This amazingly powerful sixty minutes opens with each of the eleven performers introducing themselves with their real names and role within the armed forces.
Produced by Bravo 22 Company and made possible by Royal British Legion with The Drive Project. The stories we hear are brave, sad, challenging, inspiring and ultimately hopeful. Special shoutout to Freddie the Guide Dog who joined his human Jamie Weller on the stage throughout the performance.
We are then introduced to the idea of the Island, a sand filled stage. The ex-forces actors are act out tasks, whilst relaying stories of other ex armed forces experiences of life mainly in the British Army and when they return to “Civvy” street, the name given by the Army to the rest of the population.
This is a brave, loud and strong series of stories interwoven with words written on the back wall of the Patrick Studio performance space. The audience support and reaction to this sometimes very challenging hour was reflected in their two minute standing ovation.
Reparation Island is at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 15th June. Please book tickets which start at £10 (plus booking fee) here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/bravo-22-company-birmingham
This isn’t a sponsored post.
When not writing about theatre for BrumHour, or producing Interval Theatre for Brum Radio (Tuesdays 3pm) brumradio.com/intervaltheatre,
Dave Massey can be found eating crisps and claiming to be at the gym. And tweeting about Birmingham for #BrumHour.
