I, Daniel Blake at the Oxford Playhouse Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Joanna Woodburn
I, Daniel Blake, the critically acclaimed new stage premiere of the multi-award winning film, is now showing at The Playhouse, Oxford. A Tiny Dragon productions and ETT co-production made in association with Northern Stage and originally co-produced with Birmingham Rep and Oldham Coliseum, it has been receiving standing ovations from mesmerised audiences at every performance.
Situated directly opposite the Ashmolean Museum, in the heart of Oxford, The Playhouse is an intimate and wonderfully friendly venue, with very comfortable, uniquely multi coloured seating offering plenty of leg room, audiences are guaranteed a good view from anywhere in the auditorium.
I, Daniel Blake, is ‘a powerful adaptation of the Ken Loach film that feels more relevant than ever’ (The Stage). A touching, warm and emotional story of how people come together in the face of turmoil and adversity and with the current cost of living crisis, the show is hard hitting. The show has been adapted for stage by playwright Dave Johns, who having played Daniel Blake in the award winning 2016 film, has the unique insight and understanding to ensure this production’s success.
The messages are brilliantly and cleverly conveyed, with projections of social media posts from Government ministers covering issues such as austerity and the benefits system punctuating the show, themes such as the propagation of information through social networks are explored – is it fact or fiction? Just as in the real world, the audience is left to make up their own minds.
As the main characters weave their way through the harshness of benefits system, they find that they are constantly and insensibly thwarted, despite their best efforts. Daniel is a Geordie carpenter, who is recovering after a heart attack and although he has been advised not to work by his doctor, finds himself deemed fit to work after a basic question and answer interview. The shocking inflexibility of the jobcentre staff as they work through their box ticking, with little empathy or understanding reflects the inhumanity of the systems. Daniel then meets Katie and her daughter Daisy, who has just left Newcastle for London. Katie is looking for a fresh start and has secured a council house.
The first act is tightly spun and paints a bleak and dismal picture, conveyed with heartfelt warm, humorous and outstanding performances from David Nellist as Daniel, Bryony Corrigan as Katie and Jodie Wild as Daisy. The show rightly doesn’t hold back and with powerful realism and adult themes, contains strong language, scenes of death and potentially triggering references to foodbanks, sex work and the benefits system (recommended age 14+)
This is a production full of humanity, with the focus all on the characters’ story, whilst the simple, utilitarian set is effective in reflecting the desperation and bleakness in the system. This is a show that will stay with you long after the curtain falls. Thought-provoking, powerful and compelling, I, Daniel Blake is a triumph of a show and should not be missed. Huge congratulations to the cast and production team.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £10. I, Daniel Blake is at The Playhouse, Oxford from Tuesday 10th to Saturday 14th October 2023, for more information or to book tickets visit https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ Beaumont Street, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX1 2LW