The Truth
Due to enormous demand, The Arts centre are putting on another 2 day run of this moving and poignant play at The City of Liverpool College Arts Centre on Tuesday 8th and Wed 9th July starting at 7pm.Attendance is quite limited so you will have to book tickets in advance.
To book tickets or just make enquirers call Eddie Chinn on 0151 252 4344 or the drama dept 0151 252 4312.
Be prepared for a very emotional few hours. This is a must see play.
JFT96
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The Truth
The Arts Centre, Myrtle Street (14th &
15th May)
Directed by Eddie Chinn
Last night I was privileged to be able to attend my first
grown up play.
The fact it was about Hillsborough (and that my daughter
was part of the production team) meant that I was prepared (well, as prepared
as I could be) for an emotional evening.
The play was directed by Eddie Chinn and was performed a
cast of students who attend Liverpool Community College Arts centre. If anyone
thinks this might mean it could have been amateurish and flakey…you couldn’t be
more wrong.
The Truth
tells the story through the eyes and words of the families that lost their
loved ones. The script was written by students after tons of research was done,
trawling through archive interviews with families and then their own personal recent
interviews with the families. It’s based on actual events during and following
the disaster along with personal family memories prior to the day and
since. The families mentioned by name in
the play were spoken to and gave their blessings for it to proceed and it was
poignant to see some of those family members in the audience.
A relatively small cast were tasked with playing various
multiple roles (form Police officers, to mothers, from Politicians to brothers
and sisters of the deceased) interspersed with some very funny, much needed
scally banter from some young lads who set off to Hillsborough on the day as a
gang of four but returned as a gang of three.
The play weaves in and out of various families recalling
the day….or their memories of childhood incidents and also focuses on the effects
it had on those families ever since.(some of which are extremely harrowing).
I have to say that it was incredibly powerful stuff
watching these young actors playing the roles of the likes of Anne Williams,
Trevor and Jenny Hicks etc and hearing and seeing how Hillsborough tore their
lives apart.
I’m not ashamed to say I was reduced to tears on so many
occasions that lost count. The audience were spellbound throughout. The only
sound you could hear were the stifled sniffles of those trying not to sob too
loudly and the occasional gasp as a brutal point was rammed home in true scouse
style.
I guess it shouldn’t have been surprising to see the
different ways each family reacted and remembered…but to see it brought to life
in such a brilliant and stark performance left me breathless and heartbroken. A
side story revolving around the mother of a Nottingham Forest supporter r
recalling how her son was affected by what he saw that day had the women either
side of me reduced to crumpled messes.
The Truth was
dark, incredibly sad, thought provoking and at times funny. I sat there wishing
that every prick who has ever said the words “those scousers should just get
over it”, or “why don’t they just move on” was there to witness this play as I
would defy anyone to think that after
seeing this play.
The performances were electric. Every role played to
perfection, every character tugging you one way or another.
I also sat there thinking of the hundreds of people I
know who would have loved to have seen this but never got the opportunity as
Unfortunately the play only ran for two nights (and was sold out instantly).
Maybe with some interest we can force a proper run, or
get it shown at other theatres?
The Truth affected me.
Poignant, harrowing and moving but none the less,
uplifting.
There’s also a great musical soundtrack helping the
performances along the way featuring songs by The Beatles, The Cure, Paul McCartney,
Echo and The Bunnymen, John Lennon ( All I want is THE TRUTH) ..oh and Agga Do
by Black Lace, haha.
I hope that many more people get to see what I witnessed
last night, it was an incredible performance and one that deserves to be seen
by many more people.
Watch this space.
