Joy Winkler’s Lightning Under Their Skirts. REVIEW (full version)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Guest reviewer Ethan Russon kicks up a storm with this in depth report of his experience at Joy Winkler’s brand new interactive and experimental theatre piece, Lightning Under Their Skirts, with award–winning director Kevin Dyer, which is currently on tour and which played Newcastle Library this week.

This is the longer unedited full report.  including SPOILERS.  A short summarised version without spoilers is available here

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Storm in the North? There certainly is.

Let’s set the scene, we’re in a public library, there are 70 or so seats in a circle facing the “stage.” This is already a bold setup; In The Round with no backstage area a fairly daunting task to balance these 2 things. Then let’s add in a few sparse props and the most basic of scenery. More daunting, and for good reason, this is after all a semi-professional production. And finally let’s add 8 characters played by 3 performers. Now it’s a tall order, a lot of time, work and dedication is needed to balance all these spinning plates.

Joy Winkler, Josie Cerise, Harvey Robinson and all members of Action Transport Theatre manage to do all of this and so much more.

What may appear at first to be a simple piece is something far more important, Lightning Under Their Skirts treads the line between poetry, theatre and social commentary. Joy Winkler’s tender respect shines through each line uttered on stage whether spoken by herself or her fellow performers. The piece isn’t dissimilar to other socially important texts such Road by Jim Cartwright it offers a similar platform for real voices. Joy Winkler the humble, unassuming Former Cheshire Poet Laureate captures the spirit of an entire cross section of society we don’t see much of anymore and we should all thank her for the style, grace and love she pours into her work.

In The Round is always a juggling act that can be daunting to many. However the simple, warm and calm set design combined with the natural grace that Winkler, Cerise and Robinson posses quickly and completely flood the performance space with life that seems familiar and peaceful. But this doesn’t mean the piece isn’t also very funny. Perhaps some of the points are dated and very young audiences wouldn’t grasp all of the retro references but the marketing is simple and efficient, you know what you’re getting. The proof of this is in the fact the audience of all ages adored the performance, I spared a few moments to watch reactions and ask people what they thought and I wasn’t surprised to first see people utterly absorbed and I was less surprised when people told me they loved every second “It’s just so familiar.” Explained one on looker.

“It’s just so familiar.”

Lightning Under Their skirts is familiar. It is real. This is social observation stamped on a page it’s relatable it’s close to home but most importantly it isn’t invasive. Prodding into the past and reminding people of their own experiences is easy to get wrong. Here it’s done perfectly, it is the perfect storm (in the north.) If you watch the audience you can see the monologues and characters envelope them and take them somewhere personal and unique, this is surely the essence of theatre; the ability to transport an audience into a world of your making.

However it’s ten-fold when done with 1 different piece of costume for each character, when done with poetry and music which blend seamlessly and gently without breaking this suspension it’s even more potent. Winkler’s occasional reciting of poetry don’t sound like poetry, it sounds like the voices of millions of people speaking at once through her, if this was done with any arrogance or conceit it would have derailed the whole performance but Winkler changes shape on stage and becomes your aunt, your mother, your grandmother and emits the same homely love. Cerise is your sister, your best friend and the girl you never manged to stay with. And let’s not forget Gary (Harvey Robinson.) His slick sliding encapsulates that young wild masculinity so confident, so brash and so utterly terrified of the world.

The depths of these characters are balanced brilliantly by a professional in control cast that have earned our respect.

“Brilliant use of proxemics and a stoic devotion to genuine emotion.”

Lightning Under Their Skirts also doesn’t shy away from pain or raw emotion, the sudden switches surprise turning these already familiar characters into more rounded people, again we can see Winkler’s first-hand experience guiding (Not showing) us through this pain and distress. This further draws the audience into the show.

This show is funded by The Arts Council and rightly so. This is the type of show that The Arts Council should be funding. Socially responsible, “real” theatre. I also know for a fact that the heart and the core of this show wouldn’t be lost without the funding, a budget is fairly irrelevant when you have care and respect at the forefront of both the writing and the performance. But given that afore-mentioned funding this show can reach more people in more places, and it rightfully should.

“What are boys and girls made of? This piece very subtly tells us.”

Until now I’ve been speaking entirely about the first act. The second act is bold.

We return after a 15 minute interlude to rowed seating and see Robinson, Winkler and Cerise sat and stood in front of us, the second act beings with more of Winkler’s wonderful sage words and is followed by an unexpected event, Robinson and Cerise sing a class 60’s piece, and we; the audience, are told to get into groups of 5 for a quiz a lot of people would think this isn’t a second act but I believe it is.

Let’s get this clear. The performers are not acting. This is them talking to us. So we do a quiz which is fun but I still feel oddly uncomfortable for some reason. We hear a few more classic hits from the new Sonny & Cher and a winner is announced, but I still feel oddly on edge, and I realise why.

This incredibly unconventional second act focuses on the one aspect that 3 performers can’t easily capture. Community. This quiz is no quiz. It’s a brief glimpse at a time when people spoke to each other this may sound pessimistic but it certainly isn’t meant to, just remember that we were still in a theatre so our phones were still off, we only had each other to talk to. The room was alive with energy. I felt uncomfortable because I’m so used to seeing a show and then not talking to anyone in the audience, but now I’m being shown I can; I’m unlearning programmed behaviour.

Drama-therapy anyone?

You may well not do too well in the quiz if you aren’t up to date on your events and celebrities in the sixties, this lends to my earlier concern that young audiences may feel detached from the piece but perhaps, in some way that’s the point, perhaps I’m reading into context that isn’t there but maybe this is social commentary at its rawest, we were a small society; a community.

We’ve all been to shows where audience members sing, ever been to one where everyone in the audience is singing to the same song with the members of the cast? If you see lightning Under Their Skirts you will.

The unconventional second act is incredibly accessible and you are encouraged to take part and even though the end felt somewhat and sudden it certainly didn’t detract from the piece.

Lightning Under Their Skirts is the mirror in which we see the past that surrounds us and walks with us, we’re guided through a few nights in 3 people lives but they tell so many thousands of stories that resonate with us all and that is the magic of theatre. A simple reminder of community, love, life and the past is yours if you choose it and you should, you should support humble caring story tellers, ones who put this piece on in 2 weeks. Yep! 2 weeks.

I also owe thanks to Terry Heath the Stock, Services and Activities Manager at the Nottingham Library for explaining to me that this was the first professional performance at the library. Not that I would or anyone would have known, and definitely not the last.

Finally thank you to the cast, crew and all involved. We should all aim to be so professional, kind and courteous.

Support local theatre, support real stories and support the growing profession small companies that are aching to rejuvenate all theatre scenes. See Lightning Under Their Skirts to support Storm in the North and Action Transport Theatre. They’ve earned an evening of your time.

Dates and booking info for the rest of the tour is available here. More about Joy Winkler is available at here website here

By Ethan Russon.

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This report is a full report kindly produced by Ethan Russon for StaffordshireTheatre.com. You can read the edited/summary version here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1458774858440{background-color: #e8e8e8 !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1458956520739{padding-right: 40px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”DATES, TIMES and BOOKING” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1458775149096{padding-top: 10px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1458775554849{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-12″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1495143471579{padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]

TOUR DATES

Sorry, SOLD OUT! Tuesday, May 9, 7.30pm, Whitby Hall Studio, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 6QY. Tickets £9 adults, £7 under 16s and concessions (group tix also available). Box Office: 0151 357 2120 (Cheshire Rural Touring Arts at Action Transport Theatre)

Sorry, SOLD OUT! Thursday, May 11,7.00pm, St Anne’s Library, Lytham St Anne’s, Lancs, FY8 1NR with Spot On Lancashire. Tickets: £7 adult / £5 concession. To book, please visit the library or email stannes.library@lancashire.gov.uk

Sorry, SOLD OUT! Friday, May 12, 7.30pm, The Barlow, Edgworth, nr Bolton, Lancs, BL7 0AP with Spot On Lancashire. Tickets: £7 adult / £5 concession. To book please contact: 01204 852216 / 852848

Sorry, SOLD OUT! Saturday, May 13, 7.30pm, Calder Vale Village Hall, Calder Vale, nr Preston, Lancs, PR3 1SJ with Spot On Lancashire. Tickets: £7 adult / £5 concession. To book, please contact: 01995 602615 / 606278

Sorry, SOLD OUT!- Wednesday, May 17, 7.30pm, Newcastle Library, Ironmarket, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1AT. Tickets: £7. To book, please visit or contact the Library between 9-6 Mon-Fri, 9-4 Sat on 01782 297332 or email: Newcastle.library@staffordshire.gov.uk. Payments can only be taken in cash at the Library. Nearest public car park is the Cherry Orchard (5 mins’ walk).

Sorry, SOLD OUT! Thursday, May 18, 7.30pm, Macclesfield Library, Cheshire SK10 1EE. Tickets £10 adult; £8 concessions. Box Office 01625 374000 or online (Cheshire Rural Touring Arts)

Sorry, SOLD OUT! Friday, May 19, 7.30pm Holmes Chapel Library, Cheshire, CW4 7AB (Cheshire Rural Touring Arts) Tickets: £10. To book please contact: 01477 689550. The Library has plenty of free car parking right next to the building, which is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible toilet.

Thursday, May 25, 7.30pm The Civic, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2HZ. Tickets £12, £10 concession, £8 student. Box Office: 01226 327000 or online.

Friday, May 26, 7.30pm Tarvin Community Centre, Tarvin, nr Chester CH3 8LY, Tickets £10. To book please contact: 01829 741 962 or book online via Cheshire Rural Touring Arts. The Centre has off-street parking and disabled access. The licenced bar will be open on the night!

Sunday, May 28, 7.30pm, Northwich Memorial Court (Brio Leisure), Chesterway, CW9 5QJ, Tickets: £9.00 – £10.00* (*booking fee applies). Box Office: 01606 261100 or online. Northwich Memorial Court has free adjacent parking.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-12″][vc_column_text]

CAST

[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”FULL DETAILS OF ALL TOUR DATES HERE” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”juicy-pink” size=”lg” i_type=”openiconic” i_icon_openiconic=”vc-oi vc-oi-star” add_icon=”true” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joywinkler.co.uk%2F||target:%20_blank|” css=”.vc_custom_1495143293122{margin-top: -15px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1495143331847{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Note that this button will take you to the theatre companies own website. 

Enjoy the show.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]