Theatre Review - FREE SCHOOL MEALS - NORTHERN STAGE - NEWCASTLE

 

photo credit - Luke Waddington

AS theatres finally begin to re-open, with real audiences and actors without a screen, it starts to feel as if a new normal is about start. Here at Northern Stage in their co -production with Unfolding Theatre they’ve started with a punchy and powerful start ensuring safety and entertainment. Free School Meals has been inspired after Marcus Rashford’s campaign to end food poverty. In the North East 1 in 4 children living below the poverty line are not eligible for free school meals. Some local children have worked with Annie Rigby, director, Alex Elliot, associate artist and Luca Rutherford, writer and created their own story based on the recent experiences.

photo credit - Luke Waddington

Cabaret style tables, socially distanced across the floor in Stage 2, has placed the audience in the centre of the action as we are the customers of this new restaurant called ‘The Future.’ As the children nervously appear peeping above from the kitchen area, they clearly wonder if they will be able to do it for these new customers. Designed by Simon Henderson the set allows the action to play at all four sides of the room, as the 15 children mingle around the tables or perform across the areas. The only adults working in ‘The Future’ are Alex Elliot as the apprentice pot washer in the kitchen and Kay Greyson, rapper, who delivers succinct and thoughtful lyrics.

photo credit - Luke Waddington

We are fully immersed as firstly we are provided with the rules of the restaurant and have to write down our favourite childhood foods, so they can make the right foods for us to eat. Whilst waiting for catering supplies to arrive, we are provided with a cup of tea with colouring sheets and crayons to pass the time. Finally, as food arrives, in large boxes, the anticipation is clear as they will now be able to make some food and make everyone happy. Disappointed they find the large boxes contain nothing but the odd carrot, a slice of bread, a cheese slice and half a pepper amongst the food parcels. They complain, they deserve better and demand more. Some children want to give up, others are more hopeful that they can still do it for the customers. Thankfully they succeed and provide food for the restaurant with sweet and savoury pancakes.

For the first production back at Northern Stage this is a thought-provoking and exciting piece of theatre. The future is bright!

Runs until Saturday 28^th August at Northern Stage.

photo credit - Luke Waddington