Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Sadler's Wells, London
Cast: Dominic North, Ashley Shaw, Michela Meazza, Glenn Graham, Bryony Pennington, Reece Causton, Alan Vincent, Daisy May Kemp, Andrew Monaghan and Liam Mower
In 1930s London ordinary people emerge from cheap boarding houses nightly to pour out their passions, hopes and dreams in the pubs and fog-bound streets of Soho and Fitzrovia. Step inside The Midnight Bell, a tavern where one particular lonely-hearts club gather to play out their lovelorn affairs of the heart; bitter comedies of longing, frustration, betrayal and redemption.
Hypnotising and haunting. An intense production overflowing with despair and longing.
The Midnight Bell is the latest dance production from the unstoppable Matthew Bourne. The production is inspired by the works of novelist, Patrick Hamilton and follows the stories of several people searching for their version of love in the 1930's. The heart of the pieces lies in an almost ethereal feeling pub in the heart of Soho, London. It explores a collection of tales of love including unrequited, sex workers and homosexual relationships. While the characters are all on wildly different paths, what draws them together is the small pub where their stories so often weave together.
Despite the production being set in the 1930's, many of the topics are still relatable today, meaning it's more appealing to a wider range of audiences. And while the production simply provides an in-depth exploration into a varying range of relationships, it almost feels as though you're watching a thriller, or a piece of horror. It'll get your heart racing and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.
I think because of the varying ages and statuses of the couples, audience members will be able to relate to at least one person, and will find those performances the most impactful. For me, the pairings that stood out were the gay couple who were navigating homosexuality at the time and the sex worker with her partner. I thought Dominic North's performance was the most gripping, providing a captivating display full of emotion, elegance and grace. Jenny Maple as the sex worker was also a highlight of the evening. Her ability to portray the depth of emotions and expression she does through dance is simply exceptional.
The set design from Lez Brotherston was almost immersive, allowing the audience to feel as though they too were in a London pub, a backstreet alley, a basic hotel room, among other locations. It was extremely transformative and paired with the lighting from Paule Constable made for truly memorable staging.
The music was haunting, dark and captured the mood of the evening perfectly. It was eerie and intimate, and had an ethereal aspect which made some scenes feel almost magical, which is a feat to achieve in itself in such a dark and bleak story.
The production is emotive, powerful and is a show you'll be thinking about long after you leave the theatre. Matthew Bourne proves once again that he is a force to be reckoned with. While it's not an uplifting piece of theatre, it's thought-provoking, compelling and brimming with passion.
You can book tickets to see The Midnight Bell, here.
**photo credit: Johan Persson**
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