Beautiful Thing

Synopsis

Set during a heat wave on a rundown Thamesmead estate, Beautiful Thing is an urban fairytale full of characters that abound with attitude, energy, frankness and humour. The story follows Jamie, an introvert, troubled teen whose dislike of football is reason enough for his classmates to bully him at every opportunity. Living with is pre-occupied single mum, Sandra, Jamie finds himself infatuated with his next door neighbour and classmate Ste. Ste, who is living with his drug-dealing brother and abusive, alcoholic father in the flat next door, is one night beaten so badly that Sandra takes pity and lets him sleep over. In the absence of a third bed, Ste has to make do with sleeping 'top-to-toe' with Jamie. Much to his delight, Jamie is able to provide Ste with the comfort and reassurance he craves and also a little massage with some peppermint foot lotion . . . The boys’ relationship is helped along by Leah, a sassy, Mama Cass-obsessed neighbour and Sandra’s dippy neo-hippy lover, Tony, as they discover themselves, each other and a Beautiful Thing. Jonathan Harvey deftly combines comedy with ardent drama in his critically acclaimed award winning play. Beautiful Thing truly captures what it is to be sixteen and in the first full flush of love.

Our Review:

Glenn Meads - 15 November 2011

Jonathan Harvey's Beautiful Thing has been staged many times and the writer himself stopped the play being performed for a while, as he felt it was becoming too familiar and that the quality of the productions was slipping. He has always wanted to have something staged at the Royal Exchange so he reversed his decision. Thank god, as this gorgeous piece remains just as funny and poignant as it did - almost twenty years ago.

Sarah Frankcom is the perfect director to bring back Beautiful Thing as she has a lightness of touch which illuminates many of the tender scenes. This play has been described as an 'urban fairytale' - as we follow the developing love story between two teenage boys - Jamie & Ste (played with conviction and genuine chemistry by Matthew Tennyson and Tommy Vine).

Jamie's mum - Sandra (Claire-Louise Cordwell) is a brassy bar manager with a heart of gold who reacts with pain and anger - as she cannot understand why Jamie di...

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Latest User Review

Nico - 15 November 2011:

I loved it, it was a beutiful thing @ Manchester Royal Exchange...

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