Review: Home For Christmas by Theatre in the Quarter

Dec 3 2009 by Jo Henwood, Chester Chronicle

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS/Touring Cheshire until December 20

REVIEW/by Jo Henwood

WHEN Garden Lane and Bouverie Street are mentioned in the first few minutes of a play, you know you're in for a Chester treat.

Theatre in the Quarter's Home for Christmas is just that so if you are looking for a heart warming, up lifting show that will remind you of home look no further.

Written by Helen Newall, the play is based on the memories of real Chester people of life in the city and its environs during the Second World War. Set in an imaginary BBC radio station, the action centres around the four main characters of a war time soap opera who lighten people's lives with bulletins, plays, singalongs and reports.

Songs with lines like "'We'll beat Hitler, If our clothes are littler" belie the reality of life on the battlefields but this play is not about the war. It's about those left at home trying to make do and mend, falling in love, braving the air raids and trying to make Christmas a happy time for the children.

Directed by Russ Tunney, who was once the Gateway's eductation officer but is now associate director of the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton, the four versatile actors slip in and out of their radio characters at the flick of an imaginary switch.

Thomas Latham as Johnny, was born after his time. His stature, voice, looks and demeanour date him slap bang in the early 1940s and you can just imagine him broadcasting daily for the Home Service. Johnny receives white feathers from people who think he should be out there "doing his bit" but polio as a child and poor eyesight have meant that he is destined never to fight for his country. Thomas' comic timing comes is spot on throughout the play as he provides most of the sound effects for the fictional Chester Radio Repertory company.

Artistic Director Matt Baker has stayed true to his company's community-based roots and 30 youngsters from St Thomas of Canterbury Junior School open the second act, as evacuees, with their own special rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Children from The Arches and Dee Point primary schools take the roles on other nights. As well as the children, Matt has also trained a community choir to accompany the action, kitted out in their 1940s best.

Actor's best critics are their audience and as I was filing out of the city's Forum Studio Theatre the accolades were pouring in: "extraordinarily good", "funny and moving", "absolutely superb".

Forget the big shows in the big cities. Chester's home-grown theatre company has come up trumps once again.