How I Helped End Communism (Salford)

Venue: The Lowry
Where: Salford

How I Helped End Communism is by Come As You Arts North West, in conjunction with the Lowry. It demonstrates nicely why initiatives like this, their ‘developed with’ strand – providing dedicated support to emerging artistic writers and companies – are so vital to the industry.

The action takes place in Poland, 1989, just before Solidarity’s electoral success, where students Jason and Avery are teaching debate, free speech and its part in democracy; and in England, twenty years later, when they meet again to reminisce.

Writer/Director Justin MacGregor has drawn on his own experience teaching in Poland as a student at that time, and used the words and events of the people he met to weave a piece of theatre which is evocative, dramatic and thought provoking.

Gerry McLaughlin as Jason and Richard Mylan as Avery are both excellent. Although no physical differences are played at the different stages of their lives, they manage to convey the characters as both youths of 19 and their older selves.

The other four actors – Patrycja Haline Oprawko, Kasha Bajor, Stuart Crowther and Liam Tims – play (along with other small roles) the Polish students who are keen to move their country forward towards democracy despite the hunger and suffering they are all living with.

With music written and played by Simon James Cookson, Sunniva Brynnel and Imogen Lyons, it provides atmosphere in a very traditional style without being intrusive to the plot.

Overall this is a stunning piece of documentary theatre which shines a very direct light on a time in Eastern European history which has shaped the world today and it is well worth seeing.

– Helen Jones