Spend Spend Spend (Leeds)

Spend Spend Spend tells the true story of pools winner Viv Nicholson, who won a life changing sum of money in 1961.

The moral of Viv’s story is crystal clear. Despite the way that society conditions us, money does not buy happiness. We observe the effect of the win, how Viv finds it impossible to relate to the people around her, and the swirling downward spiral of drink and bankruptcy which ensues.

The musical is set in Castleford with hyper-real diversions to the heady heights of Garforth, and eventually to the USA. The rhythms and characters of colliery culture, complete with stirring angry undercurrents of dissatisfaction and poverty, are brought to life through three central characters and a chorus of actor musicians in all the other roles. At times the actor musicians play their instruments as part of the scene and at other times they put them down and perform in song and dance numbers; this multiplicity gives an energy, pace and resonance that would usually be expected from a much larger cast.

Karen Mann‘s narration as Viv is wonderfully raw and soulful. Kirsty Hoiles remains likeable as the Younger Viv, despite the brasher facets of the character.Greg Barnett is equally endearing as Keith, his performance of “Canary in a Cage” is a particularly heartfelt highlight. Neil Ditt’s brief appearance as Brucie is also memorable.