Luke Hereford’s solo autobiographical show is a musical journey through his life growing up in Wales, discovering his queerness, and his relationship with his nan, who also happens to be his number one fan, and his best friend. Set at her ninetieth birthday party, Hereford is joined on stage by pianist Bobby Harding, who accompanies them with a soundtrack of Kylie, Kate Bush, and Meet Me in St Louis.
There’s a lot to admire in the show. It’s sort of fabulously chaotic, a little bit messy, which kind of suits the tone as Hereford plays dress up with items from his grandmother’s onstage wardrobe. It’s old fashioned, the insides patterned with pale pink florals. On the other side of the stage is a dressing table, draped with a few bits of Nan’s jewellery and perfume bottles; a hollow mirror, which Harding pokes their head behind, sat at the piano. Hereford narrates stories of his first time at pride (with Nan providing the lube and condoms), and their trip to Broadway together, to see eight shows in five days. But Nan, as later revealed, has dementia. And it’s heartbreaking for Hereford, and us, to see her memories fading. She’s his biggest icon. But, as he eventually realises, ‘even if your memory fades, I’ll always have them, even if you don’t’.
The musical numbers and staging are generally a bit all over the place. Hereford doesn’t have the strongest vocals, and sometimes loses control of the performance as he tries to get through the songs. He’s certainly very committed to the act, which is commendable, but some tighter direction or choreography could really help give each of the segments a bit more purpose. In one section he sort of waves a large white sheet around, and I’m not really sure what’s happening.
The action of trying to get the lipstick on properly, and then finally getting it right, gives the show a really nice overall character arc. We feel by the end that Hereford does now have what they need to be their true self, even if Nan isn’t around anymore in the way she used to be. A messy first half turns into a touching second, but the show as a whole needs quite a bit of tidying up to become something really special.
Reviewed 13th August 2022
by Joseph Winer
Photography by Kirsten McTernan
For dates and venues for all Fringe shows, click on the image below
CASTING CONFIRMED, TICKETS ON SALE & REHEARSALS START
FOR
NATIONAL THEATRE WALES’
LIFTED BY BEAUTY:
ADVENTURES IN DREAMING
Rehearsals for National Theatre Wales’ Lifted By Beauty: Adventures In Dreaming, whose audience will take a guided journey around Rhyl, have started.
Artist Mark Storor and National Theatre Wales have been getting to know Rhyl and many of its residents over several months; from coffee shops to council offices, from book groups to food banks, from women’s centres to the beach, they have been gathering stories from those who know the town best.
The result will be a walking production inspired by those people and their stories, including local political activists and mother and baby groups, newcomers to the town and some who’ve lived here their whole life. Walking in groups through the town centre and on the beach, audiences will encounter performances by professional artists including actors, dancers and circus artists, combined with soundscapes and light installations. Lifted By Beauty: Adventures In Dreaming will be a vivid portrait of the real Rhyl, a town on the cusp of regeneration.
The production’s professional cast will include June Campbell-Davies, Marco Fiera, Lloyd Meredith, Rhys Meredith, Laura Moy, Francois Pandolfo and Caroline Sabin, all of whom have started rehearsals in the town ahead of the performances 31st March-2nd April.
In the meantime, National Theatre Wales have set up shop at 66 High Street, Rhyl, and everyone and anyone curious to know more about the production is welcome to pop in for a chat. Tickets for the production are now on sale from National Theatre Wales’ website, by phone on 029 2037 1689 or from the shop itself. Keep your eye on the website for the shop’s latest opening times.
Mark Storor is an award-winning British artist with an international reputation. Working in the space between live art and theatre, he has been described in the British press as “a genuinely visionary theatre maker”, “an alchemist” and “one of the most distinctive voices in British Theatre”. His work is devised, often site-specific and always collaborative. His recent work includes Baa Baa Baric: Have You Any Pull? A Quiet Revolution (with Heart Of Glass, in St Helen’s), Little Sister (Manchester Royal Exchange), The Simplicity of Truth (FACT), The Barometer of My Heart (Anna Ledgard in association with Artsadmin), Puffball (The Roundhouse, London and tour), The Paper Project (Oval House, London) and A Tender Subject (Artangel).
Artist: Mark Storor Composer: Brian Duffy Sound Designer: Mike Beer Community Associate: Jan Miller Photographer: Stephen King Lighting Designer: Ceri James Design Associate: Eleri Lloyd Costume Supervisor: Llinos Griffiths
Listing
presents
LIFTED BY BEAUTY:
ADVENTURES IN DREAMING
Performed in Rhyl, Denbighshire
Friday 31st March, 6pm Saturday 1st April, 6pm Sunday 2nd April, 6pm
