I suppose it had to happen. After saying that I was well on the way to understanding the language of dance, I was somewhat baffled by some aspects of this production, which was not only dance, but projected film and spoken word as well. Fortunately there was an information sheet to summarise the intention of the piece. Before you pass sentence I would like to submit a partial defence in that the spoken word part was variable in its clarity which may have had a bearing on my dilemma.
According to the fact sheet, SUNNY SIDE is ‘a bold, heartfelt exploration of youth, masculinity and mental health in contemporary Britain’. I did get that part, it was the execution which I found a little confusing. I realise that the mundanity of life in a small West Yorkshire valley town can be wearing on the soul, but everything was taken to extremes and the message could have been more than adequately conveyed in far less time had the excessive repetition of various elements been reduced.
K – Soul Roberts – in his domain.
The story revolves around K, played by Soul Roberts, an 18 year-old man trying to come to terms with his place in life. The setting is ostensibly anonymous but referred to as a ‘colder valley’ and ‘happy’, meaning it had to be somewhere on the river between Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden. It was in the process of being gentrified after the traditional industries had all but died out, leaving K in a sort of social limbo, although he has a ‘proper’ job requiring him to sport an orange hi vis coat. He lives in a small bedroom in his parents’ house, with seemingly little social intercourse.
The piece opened with K in bed and the alarm on his mobile phone going off; he got up, dressed in whatever he thought appropriate and took a plate bearing a slice of bread from a woman’s hand which appeared through the door. He had a bite and left. This involved a short dance routine and a spoken commentary on what the day had in store. He reappeared some time later, removed his clothes and went back to bed. The process was repeated several times with only a few modifications, in that we were privy to a short glimpse of his dreams, projected on the back of the set, but no matter whether it was pleasant or a nightmare, the soundtrack was of incessant rain. By the end of the week, which seemed like a fortnight to me, his mood had picked up as he got nearer to a visit from someone named Danny. I couldn’t work out whether it was his brother, a friend or a lover, but they appeared to be very close, especially during their dances, nor whether it was part of his present life or a flashback. Referring to the information sheet later, I gleaned that K was revisiting pivotal moments in his life, so probably the latter.
K, Soul Roberts and Danny, Ed Mitchell, share some bromance dancing.
When Danny had left, a young girl arrived, being let in through the bedroom window, which seemed to confirm the venue as Calder (Happy) Valley where, being on the side of steep hills, the houses have fewer storeys on one side, meaning that boudoirs are accessible from street level. It was one of the few scenes which had a small amount of positivity about it, as well as an amazing dance involving the girl, (who I assume was A, although it could have been B, as both were played by Sophie Thomas), and K. She looked to be fairly young, dressed in a short tartan skirt indicating a school uniform, so, again, probably a flashback. They were obviously close but she exited in the same manner as she had entered and the gloom and rain resumed.
K, Soul Roberts, with A, Sophie Thomas, in his room.
The morning routine resumed, except that now mother and father, who could be seen in silhouette on the bedroom door, were constantly arguing. This time K didn’t bother with breakfast.
K, wrestling with the laces from his trainers, which have assumed a life of their own.
The action shifted to a railway station where K and Danny were boarding a train to Manchester to meet up with friends and go clubbing. There was no interval so this entailed the bed and other items of set, being shifted by stage hands, also in hi vis vests, whilst the piece continued. I bet the Greggs in the bus station opposite did a roaring trade before the show.
Whilst at the club, Danny, played by Ed Mitchell, and K threw a few shapes until B appeared, at which point Danny switched partners and disappeared with her. I was not sure whether K’s darkening mood was due to Danny pulling A, K’s ex, or getting off with a different girl, B, still leaving K rejected. I now realise it was the latter. Cue more, seemingly endless repetition, this time of a musical bent.
Danny – Ed Mitchell, K – Soul Roberts and B – Sophie Thomas hit the Manchester scene.
The work ended with K being dejected and delivering a monologue spoken, as were all the verbal sections, by a voice actor offstage.
As you will have gathered, I tend not to read information about anything I go to see beforehand, as I believe that the work should be presented to be interpreted by the audience members, each in their own way. Hence my impressions will probably not be the one meant to be conveyed. They are pieces of art not documentaries.
I do, however, like to study my fellow audience members, as they are the ones who have paid to see the show so will be aware of the contents and method of presentation. My observation was that they were mainly young, fit people, quite a few of whom I would venture to suggest are attendees of the magnificent Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Chapeltown Road. It is the alma mater of all three dancers who, I am more than happy to say, did the establishment proud.
The voice actors were: Lamin Touray, Brendan Barclay, Jonathan Aubrey Bentley and Anna Holmes.
Regardless of the above review, it is the overall feeling one gets from this piece which is its essence, especially in this case.
SUNNY SIDE, written by Anna Holmes, was created and directed by Anna Holmes and Sam Ford, who are Northern Rascals dance theatre, in partnership with #ANDYSMANCLUB a suicide prevention charity, available to men who are suffering from mental health problems but find it difficult to talk to anyone about it. I have been no stranger to the black dog myself in the past, and found that the NHS in 1984 was not much help at all, so, although I managed to manage the condition on my own, I can empathise with those who feel they have been let down. Should that be the case, I urge you to at least give them a try. Click on https://andysmanclub.co.uk/ for details.
What I don’t understand though, is why everything is in upper case, if you are struggling the last thing you want is to be shouted at.
For further dates on the tour please go to https://www.northernrascals.com/sunny-side where you will also find a short film.
For future presentations at Leeds Playhouse it is https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/whats-on/
Photography was by Elly Welford and Katie Ho.
Tyke It To The Limit 