Bittersweet Sunshine
The Carriageworks
Tuesday 22nd June
Having sampled some of Red Ladder’s impressive work before (Riot, Rebellion and Bloody Insurrection), I was interested to see whether the actors in their training academy (Red grit) would be of the same calibre - and I was pleasantly surprised.
Set in a sunny tourist resort in Costa Brava, this story is about Terry, who moved from Liverpool to Spain to set up his own bar. His friend, Solomon, moved from Sierra Leone and regularly helps out sweeping the decking and doing odd jobs. Both are trying to escape old demons, but neither can shake them off.
One day Terry’s past catches up with him when he’s paid a visit by his niece, Hayley. She starts asking questions and demanding answers about her Father, however she’s left feeling worse when she hears some home truths. Her friend who she’s brought along on the trip (under false pretences) is left having to find her own entertainment and ends up having a heart to heart on the beach with Solomon.
The resort’s rep is crass, insensitive and quite racist, which was uncomfortable to watch as the character attempted to mimic the actions and opinions of some Brits on holiday. The other characters, however, were more endearing and relatable.
The conclusion to the story was realistic, as some issues were still left unresolved and up in the air. At only an hour long, there was depth to the characters and twists in the storyline, which made for a great evening of entertainment.
This performance was part of the Emerge Festival taking place in Leeds this week, which provides a platform for emerging theatre-makers in the region. For more information about the festival and the upcoming events, please visit the website here.