Stevenage (Salford)

Until tonight, all I knew of Stevenage was that it provided the setting for Saxondale: But there is significantly more to this Hertfordshire town than a cult Steve Coogan sit-com.

Post WW2, the Labour Government’s Abercrombie plan called for the establishment of a ring of garden cities around London, and in 1946, Stevenage became Britain’s first ‘new town.’ In 1968, Transgender artist Mandy Romero left the Midlands, and ran away to Stevenage, exploring the new town, and watching swinging 60’s comedy Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush at the local cinema (filmed entirely in Stevenage, and starring ‘boyish’ actor Barry Evans).

This solo show combines personal history with stories of town planning, taxi drivers, and cross-dressing. Romero talks about his younger self in the third person, like a detective referring to the deceased. The victim is actually Barry Evans, best known for dire sit-com, Mind Your Language; by the late 90’s, Evans’ fame had dwindled, and he was either murdered or drank himself to death (the coroner recorded an open verdict).

Stevenage is an intriguing oddity and Romero the writer has uncovered a plethora of interesting facts and coincidences, which he tries to connect. Unfortunately, his performance skills are limited, and he appears nervous and hesitant; mostly he speaks in a quiet monotone and some lines get lost. Cathy Butterworth directs but at times, the show is so sloppy, it feels more like a public read-through.

Which is a shame, because there is something quite unique going on here.

– Steve Timms

(Reviewed at the Lowry)