Paul Heaton’s The 8th (MIF – Manchester)

Venue: Pavillion Theatre
Where: Manchester

Last night the Manchester International Festival premiered The 8th, Paul Heaton‘s first foray into arts festivals, in their Pavilion Theatre. Running for two nights, the piece began as an attempt to make the longest pop song ever and has resulted in a unique, uplifting and invigorating musical experience.

The 8th begins with a motley crew of musicians and masked singers taking their seats onstage, while a Preacher-like Narrator begins his story from a pulpit. He is accompanied by a band, strings and a synthesised beat, and he preaches to the rhythm. Heaton has gathered an eclectic collection of recognisable singers who remove their masks, step up to a lectern and sing a deadly sin each. Using varied styles from soul to folk and reggae to gospel, with a smattering of the inimitable Beautiful South sound thrown in, the musical journey is diverse and refreshing, keeping a head-bobbing audience spellbound for the duration.

Making each sin their own were incredible performers including new soul sensation Wayne Gidden, Cherry’s Ghosts’s Simon Aldred, Hull’s finest country singer Mike Greaves and, my personal favourite, Jacqui Abbott, recognisable as the Beautiful South’s soulful female vocal, reunited with Heaton for the first time since 2000. Heaton himself stepped up to the lectern to sing the new 8th deadly sin, matching the talent and stage presence of those around him.

Writer Che Walker wrote the narrator’s story to compliment the music, which was performed expressively by actor Reg E Cathey, from hit US series The Wire. Though contrasting to their usual theatrical style, The 8th is produced by Paines Plough and directed by their Artistic Director, George Perrin, a successful departure for them which injected the production with drama and intensity.

The opening night was unfortunately thwarted by technical disasters, meaning a lack of stage projections and lighting effects, plus an hour’s wait for the show to start, which must have been disappointing for the crew involved. Paul Heaton, however, made a humble and charming apology as way of introduction, which welcomed and encouraged the enthusiastic audience to be part of an ambitious, thrilling and unforgettable event.

Though the production could have ended with The 8th deadly sin, those who returned for the second act were treated to Heaton’s back catalogue sung by each performer in their own style. Here special mention must go to Simon Aldred’s moving version of “I’ll Sail This Ship Alone”, but I also hope that Abbott and Heaton so enjoyed their duet of “This House” that they won’t wait another 11 years to reunite onstage again.

The 8th offers audiences an excellent and versatile night out.

– Francesca Waite