Theatre Review - BRIGHTON ROCK - NORTHERN STAGE

Brighton Rock 2018 Sarah Middleton as Rose and Jacob James Beswick as Pinkie

Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock is a journey of pure evil. Telling the story of gang land Brighton. Ida, Gloris Onitiri, becomes suspicious after the death of a man she has briefly met. She sets of on the trail of Pinkie, Jacob James Beswick, the psychotic gangster, and tries to save his girlfriend Rose, Sarah Middleton, from his violent conduct.

Brighton Rock 2018 The Ensemble

The first act, punctuated by many short scenes, with aggressive percussion, swirling mist and synchronised movement perfectly puts us in the heart of the dark and menacing world inhabited by mob rule.

Brighton Rock 2018 Jacob James Beswick as Pinkie, Dorian Simpson as Dallow, Marc Graham as Cubitt
and Angela Bain as Spicer

Brighton Rock 2018 Jennifer Jackson as Mollie and Shamira Turner as Delia

In the second act the relationship develops between Rose and Pinkie and these are certainly the two stand out performances. Sara Middleton brings the perfect childlike naivety as the 16-year-old waitress in love for the first time and under the evil control of Pinkie. Jacob James Beswick is incredibly captivating in his performance of the anguish suffered by Pinkie and his control of Rose. Without giving anything away, one of the final scenes with Pinkie took a lot of trust and bravery, creating an outstanding moment of theatre.

Brighton Rock 2018 Jacob James Beswick as Pinkie,
Marc Graham as Fred and The Ensemble

The use of physical theatre from the ensemble cast added to the intensity, drawing the audience into the seediness of the under world of gangster life. The choreography and movement is skilfully created and perfectly complements the subtle lighting and superb soundscape. The multi-functional two-level set, with musicians centre stage, provides plenty of scope for the ensemble cast to lurk in corners.

This is a highly slick and brilliantly directed production.