Review: Spend, Spend, Spend at the Royal Exchange ‘is a glittering tale of wealth and excess’

For most people, winning the lottery will never be anything more than a daydream they keep up their sleeve for a rainy day. Although the chance of it happening are slim, there is still a chance.

So imagine, you hit the jackpot! What would you do? Where would you go? And most importantly, how would you spend your fortune?

Castleford born Viv Nicholson does not have to wonder.

In 1961, she and husband Keith won £152,319 betting on football pools (£4,300,000 in today’s money).  Based on the extraordinary true story, Spend, Spend, Spend follows the couple as they embark on an exorbitant life of luxury.

Spend, Spend, Spend at the Royal Exchange Theatre

Rachel Leskovac plays Viv years after she lost it all and has returned home to Castleford.

She acts as the narrator and is often observing the scenes she’s recalling. Her performance is full of heart, northern grit and bittersweet nostalgia. Rachel generates the majority of the laughs from the audience with her comedic timing and looks to the audience.

She is believable in her world weary portrayal of Viv, in such sharp contrast to her younger self. The most impactful thing about her performance is the obvious connect to Rose Galbraith’s Young Viv.

As Young Viv, Rose Galbraith is as bubbly as all the champagne she drinks. From the moment she arrives on stage, she holds the audiences attention and embodies the role completely. Rose Galbraith has a strong, sweet voice that seems to get stronger as the show goes on.

Rose Galbraith gives a nuanced portrayal

Despite the character of Young Viv being larger than life, Rose Galbraith gives a nuanced portrayal. Her subtle expressions and mannerisms  add an impressive level of depth to her already layered performance. She is as convincing as a naive sixteen year old who wants nothing more than to fall in love, as when she is a nouveau riche millionaire spiralling out of control in her forties.

Miner turned millionaire Keith Nicholson is played by Alex James-Hatton. He is an equal scene partner to the larger than life Viv, and he shares the stage gracefully without being overshadowed. It is easy to believe he and Viv are in love, the chemistry is very strong and the two are really natural together.

Alex James-Hatton is a really strong vocalist and he gives a very grounded performance that offsets the outrageousness on stage. His simple yet tender rendition of an old Yorkshire folk song is one of the more emotional moments of the whole show.

The ensemble, consisting of Jamil Abbasi, Joe Alessi, Abigail Brodie, George Crawford Ayesha Maynard, Rachel Moran, Alfie Parker,  Lejaun Sheppard, Rebecca Thornhill and Karen Wilkinson runs like a well oiled machine. They flit between roles and inhabit each one with conviction and ease. They are the beating heart of Spend, Spend, Spend, adding all important texture and elevating every scene.

Grace Smart’s set and props are extremely stylised.  From the LED frame of Viv’s Chevrolet, the jewel encrusted shopping trolley and the all important cheque that goes up in flames, It all feels really innovative and lends an outlandish dream like quality to parts of the production.

Despite following Viv’s chaotic life at a breakneck pace, Spend, Spend, Spend still manages to stall a little. Viv’s life prior to winning the lottery is perhaps a little too well established in act one, to the detriment of the rest of the story.

While this personal and historical context is important, it dominates the first half. This means that the all important lottery win and its impact sometimes feel like a footnote, rather than a catalyst.

I wish instead that more time was spent establishing what Viv’s life became after she spent the money. Knowing just how hard she falls would perhaps raise the stakes and help the audience to sympathise with the version of Viv who is telling the story.

While the second act does focus on the big win and the spending frenzy that follows, the older version of Viv is still somewhat left behind by the narrative unfortunately.

Lucy Hind’s choreography is distinctive and unique. It is executed flawlessly by the cast and it really heightens the performance by extenuating the surrealism of the story. It is highly stylised and very memorable.

With music, book and lyrics by Steve Brown and Justin Greene, the music of Spend, Spend, Spend has something for everyone. From a rousing work song about going down the mines, to a show stopping diva ballad in the second act.

While the songs are catchy and cohesive- with lots of lovely reoccurring musical themes and reprises- without fail, they all seem to go on for at least ninety seconds too long. The songs all excel at creating simple ideas and concepts that accompany moments in the story, but they don’t really elaborate on anything.

Grace Smart’s excellent costumes

The costumes of Spend, Spend, Spend (designed by Grace Smart) are  very impressive. why because they all fit the scene they are in perfectly. They help to place the audience in the time period and place described on stage. Whether it’s the upper echelons of suburban Garforth or the smoke filled rooms of The Miners Arms.

Spend, Spend, Spend offers a personal look at the costs of consumerism and the hedonism of a bygone era. Despite the grave consequences of excess, this revival provides a pastel coloured and often light hearted look at a life ruled by extremes. The memory of Viv Nicholson is celebrated and preserved in this technicolour cautionary tale about the grave consequences of living to excess.

Tickets for Spend, Spend, Spend at the Royal Exchange Theatre

Spend, Spend, Spend is at the Royal Exchange Theatre until 11th January 2025.

Tickets are available here