Ben Norris shines in this extraordinary show where he explores the nature of his relationship with his father, with whom he has never really been able to talk. His narrative takes the audience with him on the journey he once took from Nottingham down to Wembley, where his father has always been most at home, and where he hoped to find the answers as to who his father really is. Ben is a natural storyteller, and his script is beautifully written, with numerous verses of spoken word that flow from his tongue so smoothly it would be easy to believe that none of it is scripted at all. He has a quiet, calm stage presence that is instantly captivating, and he commands equal attention in both the loud, dramatic moments and the intense, emotional ones.
The use of props is clever, with small lights symbolising each destination of Ben’s journey, and the very rucksack he took on that journey yielding more and more items over the course of the play as we are taken deeper into Ben’s life. There are many videos and animated projections depicting the places he visited and the people he hitchhiked with, and I loved this addition; unlike some slightly awkward attempts to incorporate more technology into theatre, this worked perfectly as part of the narrative, driving home the fact that this all actually happened.
Heartwarming comedic moments are scattered throughout the show, from anecdotes of Ben’s childhood to imitations of his father, which provide a lovely contrast to the highly emotional climax towards the end. Everything about it is well structured, which makes for a seamless production that is still full of heart.
There’s something very special about theatre like this; about people who can take an audience on such a personal journey performance after performance and never lose any of the genuine feeling behind the piece. And Ben really does take you on a journey - a journey that he himself goes on through the play - until you are right there with him, at the very end, realising that the people we love are exactly who they have always been, and the best way to know them is simply to ask.
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