Review: Undermined at 53two is ‘tense, angry and a sobering reminder of life under Thatcher’

When Undermined begins, it is 1984 and the Yorkshire pit Dale works at has just voted unanimously in favour of a strike; in response to Thatcher’s government closing profitable pits across the country – regardless of how much a community depends on them.

Morale is high and everyone is sure they will be back to work in two weeks, with their futures secured and their pride intact.

Undermined at 53two

Undermined chronicles the year that followed, exploring how the Strike brought out the best and the worst in people, as communities everywhere were pushed to the absolute limit.

Undermined provides a nuanced and compassionate look at this decisive event in British history forty years on.

Danny Mellor is a powerhouse performer.

A powerhouse performance from Danny Mellor

As soon as he walks on stage, the world of Undermined appears around him, formed by the strength of his performance and the quality of his writing alone. He is engaging and fully committed to the story.

His performance is deeply emotional but still grounded within the harsh realities of the story.

Even though all he has to work with is a chair and a pint of beer the world he creates on stage feels tangible; you can’t help but feel as though they are living the events of the Strike alongside Dale and his community, as opposed to simply listening to him retell the story.

Although Dale and his mates are the main focus of the show, Mellor also portrays a number of distinct side characters that further flesh out the story and make the world feel that much more real.

One of Undermined’s greatest strengths is how it plays with tension.

Adrenaline drives the story forward at an almost uncomfortable rate as Dale and his mates fight for their livelihoods on the picket lines, recounting the horrific brutality they suffered at the hands of the police.

Then, just before it gets to be too much, Mellor artfully eases audiences back down, with a well-timed joke or a tender moment.

Well paced, and full of 80’s classics

Undermined is paced well, with the hour-long play following the duration of the Strike.

80’s classics like Come On Eileen and The Boys Are Back In Town, are peppered throughout, marking the passage of time and grounding the show firmly within the period.

Undermined is a gritty and emotional play that packs a punch.

It is concise and impactful without ever being exploitative.

The characters are flawed and three-dimensional and the events of the Strike are treated with the respect that they deserve.

It is a story full of righteous anger is powered by the passion of those who lived it.

It is political without being patronising and serves as either a great introduction to this generation-defining event or a sobering reminder for those who know all too well.

Tickets for Undermined at 53two

Undermined is currently touring the U.K, more information can be found here