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Bright Lights Over Bentilee At Claybody Theatre, The Dripping House, Stoke-On-Trent Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Becky B

Bright Lights over Bentilee is a warm and funny dose of nostalgia. It is based on a real-life UFO sighting on the edge of the Bentilee housing estate in Stoke on Trent, in the Autumn of 1967.

A glowing, red object is seen flying over the houses and coming to land in a field before taking off again in a blaze of white light. The event, witnessed by dozens of locals, has no plausible explanation. The local astronomical society begin to investigate the sightings, but the mystery deepens with the appearance of a mysterious stranger.

Polly Lister plays Beverly Alcock, one of the central characters in the play and a typical 1960’s outspoken potteries woman, who is responsible for much of the humour in the play. Beverly feels so familiar to those of us who have grown up in the potteries reminding us of a relative, neighbour or friend. Beverly is mum to Sylvia and Aunt to Joan, who also play central roles in the play. Sylvia and Joan are not exactly the best of friends but have a great chemistry in scenes together and share some banter. Much of the play depicts day to day family life in the 1960’s potteries and shows the warmth, caring and community that was a staple part society at the time.

If you are local, you might pick up on the references to local places of times gone by, such a Clowes community hall, the pits and the steel works. The actors do a good job of mastering the local accent and there are a few ‘ducks’ for good measure. If Men in Black were to meet 1960’s Stoke on Trent, Bright Lights Over Bentilee would be the result. The play has a strong storyline, likeable characters, stacks of nostalgia and plenty of humour.

The Claybody theatre, directed by Conrad Nelson, delivered Deborah McAndrews story to perfection. The small cast all have good chemistry on stage together and as a member of the audience, I was drawn into the story, wanting to know more about the individual characters back stories and hoping for a part 2.

The set is simple, but effective and it almost blends itself into the building adding to the feeling of the audience being ‘in’ the action. The lighting and sound effects are used to great effect throughout the play, but they are especially effective when they are used to indicate the presence of the UFO, transporting the audience into the field with the locals. In between scenes, snippets 1960’s pop songs are played to link the scenes together, setting the tone for the next scene which I loved, developing the sense of nostalgia and further immersing the audience into the world of the characters.

The Dipping House, home to the Claybody theatre company is a unique venue, itself part of local history. A former pottery factory, which has been transformed into a unique performance space. As you step inside, you become transported to a different time and place. This is a small, intimate venue which means there is little separation between the audience and the actors, placing you right the centre of the action. We loved looking at the pockets of scenery that lined the entry to the theatre, wondering what we would find around the next corner as we made our way to our seats.

Going to see Bright Lights Over Bentilee is not just watching a show, it is an immersive experience, and the ticket price is very reasonable at £15 per person (concessions £13). Before the show and during the interval, there is a small bar area where patrons can buy a drink. The bar feels like an extension to the set and is also very reasonably priced. I would highly recommend a visit to see Bright Lights over the Bentilee, it is truly out of this world!

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost £15 (concessions £13)
Bright Lights Over Bentilee is at The Dipping House, Stoke on Trent from Friday 27th September – Saturday 12th October 2024, for more information or to book tickets visit https://www.claybodytheatre.com/tickets/

https://www.claybodytheatre.com/productions/upcoming-productions/bright-lights-over-bentilee/
The Dipping House, Spode Works, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1QQ

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