Live Theatre, Newcastle.
John Challis’s poetic play about a chance meeting on a railway concourse between a call centre worker and a would-be poet is the first of three Bitesize plays produced by Queen’s Hall Arts playing at Live Theatre. The production is a perfect blend of poetry and theatre, with the writing succeeding in being, at turns, both lyrical and naturalistic.
The performances are spot on. Adam Donaldson gives a confident and accomplished performance as edgy poet Dante. Alex Tahnee’s Kayleigh – the girl who turns up on the platform one day and keeps coming back to meet up with Dante – is a wonderfully effortless performance, engaging and utterly natural. They are ably assisted by Melanie Rashbrooke’s direction. Her staging is simple and effective, and the pace rattles along.
There are two more performances of The Next Train To Depart, next Saturday 8th February.
(originally posted 31 January 2014)
PAUL DUNN 