Transmissions at The Lowry, Manchester Review
Transmissions
The Lowry, Manchester
23-24 October 2014
Reviewed by Debbie Tasker
Transmissions is a new play by Dr Tuheen Huda and developed with The Lowry and Manchester Science Festival.
Performed in The Lowry Studio, a very intimate auditorium with comfy seating and a very clear view of the stage area this is the perfect setting for this piece of theatre.
We were guided to the theatre doors by a funeral director dressed in the attire and saying all the right things about the deceased Sydney Flynn whose funeral we were attending. She carries on chatting to guests until the show begins.
The idea behind the play is a very good one. To raise awareness of how addiction affects individuals. Tuheen Huda is an intensive care doctor so has first-hand experience. There is also input from scientists and other health professionals.
Sydney’s granddaughter Jess meets funeral director Elaine at the wake and begin chatting, after finding they get on the next scene is set in a bar where we learn Jess has a crack habit and Elaine is a little too fond of whisky.
It then switches to the brain and the actresses Rosie Fox (Jess) and Jilly Bond (Elaine) are hormones explaining in detail what happens when you are an addict.
We then follow what happens to them both in the next year of their lives.
Throughout the show we hear a recording of actual addict’s voices giving an insight into their own experiences and lives.
The set is basic, but that is all that is needed. White sheets provide three screens to project different settings and images.
Costume change is again basic.
If I am honest Transmissions wasn’t as hard hitting as I thought it would be. Having first-hand experience of both addictions it revolves around I would have liked to feel something for the characters fighting their demons. Unfortunately I didn’t. Both actresses work hard throughout but there characters I feel were not convincing.
I also found it all a bit ‘busy’. The play last just over an hour and it was trying to cram an awful lot in, so in the process lost some of what it was trying to achieve.
Overall it was an interesting evening if a bit rushed in my opinion.
Rating: 3.5/5
The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3AZ | 0843 208 6000
