I had heard many great things last year about
November Club’s new production of ‘Beyond The End of The Road’ not least
because the music and lyrics were created by the incredible Katie Doherty. So
to hear that they were teaming up with Northern Heartlands and doing a short
tour of Durham was great news.
The story, written by Laura Lindow, is set in
Place, it could be anywhere! It is here that we meet some of the residents.
Evie Clark, Alice Blundell, the village school teacher, an incomer who throws
herself into village life. Her sister Sula Clark, Christina Berriman-Dawson,
arrives to escape from her home life and find out what the attraction of Place
is. Alec Lockart, Micky Cochrane, is the farmers son, stuck in his ways and
grieving over the loss of his wife. Alec lives with his mother Grace, Jane
Holman, and his son Thomas, Lawrence Neale, who wants to move away from Place
to see if the grass is greener. Alec’s brother Bobby, Jack Alexander, returns
after leaving Place to make a success of himself. The story is held together by
Peter Peverley as the narrator and various other roles who keeps the story
flowing with pace. As we learn about each of the characters we are drawn into
life in Place and what is beyond the end of the road. Will a new bypass deepen the
isolation of Place? Is there a mobile phone signal beyond the end of the road?
It is the hum, the unexplained noise which draws everyone together.
The music holds the show together brilliantly with
Katie Doherty as Musical Director and songs performed by the cast and musicians
Shona Mooney and Dave Grey. I certainly hope there will be a cast recording to
follow. The entire cast are amazing, so much energy and talent. What makes this
show unique is also the community involvement, you feel as if you are for a few
hours in Place, as audience members suddenly stand and recount stories or join
in with the singing, and take on the role of Sula’s daughter, which at The
Witham was played by Eleanor Tippey.
This is one show I could certainly watch over and
over again.
