Review: JB Shorts 26 at 53two is ‘a five-star showcase of northern talent’

Tucked away under the railway arches of Deansgate, independent theatre 53two is hosting Reallife Theatre Company for their latest instalment of JB Shorts 26.

The collection of five short plays that make up JB Shorts 26 is calling 53two home for a week of shows in the heart of the city.

Each one features at least three actors and are all performed, directed and written by different creatives, covering a range of light-hearted themes and storylines.

Before the show begins, you’re welcomed into the inclusive bar, a relaxed seating area with comfy sofas and soft lighting, where you can get a pre-show pie and a pint for a tenner – off to a great start!

Once the theatre doors open, you’re allowed to sit anywhere on the bleacher-style seating, or get up close and personal with the cast on the cabaret chairs and tables at the front.

The layout of the theatre means there are no bad seats in the house and you can see the show from wherever you are sat.

Meeting Morag

Kicking off the evening of entertainment is Meeting Morag, written by Ben Tagoe and directed by Miranda Parker. Widower Paul is excited, yet visibly nervous, for his new girlfriend to meet his teenage daughter Morag, played by Libby Hall.

Like any teenager, she has a sharp tongue and isn’t going to make life easy for her dad and his new woman.

This is Libby’s JB Shorts debut, and her portrayal of Morag is brilliant, capturing the angsty essence of what it means to be a young woman. Morag is moody and quick-witted on the outside, but struggling with untold emotions on the inside, which dad’s new girlfriend, Danielle, can see right through – having once been a teenage girl herself.

Using only a sofa and a kitchen table for the set, the simple staging gives you a peek into the tumultuous tea time events of that first meeting.

Ministry of Me

Ministry of Me is written by award-winning Coronation Street writer, Julie Jones, and directed by Cherylee Houston. This performance begins with a tongue-in-cheek voice over to make the audience aware there will be swearing and possible traumatic scenes – but there’s a bar with strong spirits available for anyone who needs the emotional support after the show.

Following three struggling actors, Milo, Sadie and Max played by Oscar Jones, Hope Vidal and Jack Furlong, they quickly realise there’s more money to be made in preaching than performing, so they don their best sparkly jackets and set out to rake in the cash.

When one of them begins to take it too far, God decides she’s going to have to step in. Ending with Chappel Roans ‘Pink Pony Club’ in the background, this uplifting cautionary tale certainly gets the audience giggling.

Dogsbody

Written by soap screenwriter Lindsay Williams and Australian director Hannah Ellis-Ryan, Dogsbody is a semi-interactive play about a young lad and ‘his’ dog. Jay, played by Waterloo Road’s Liam Scholes, brings home a puppy to impress his partner, Sabrina, played by Hope Yolanda.

Sabrina is over the moon with the fluffy pooch Fifi, only to find out that she’s not her puppy at all, and Jay is in big trouble with his mobster boss Johnno, the real owner of Fifi, actually called Killer. The curly-haired cutie is played by a very well-behaved pup called Ringo, who did his best not to steal the spotlight from his human co-stars.

This hilarious play has it all, dramatic scenes, on-stage violence, a scouser and a dog, what more could you want?

Mirror Mirror

After a short interval, Mirror Mirror brings you back into the theatre space and immediately immerses you in the suspense of this psychological thriller. Written by Diane Whitley, directed by Amelia Griffiths and starring Jenny Gregson as Joyce, Mirror Mirror follows Joyce’s journey in her care home room, where her ‘loving’ son has left her to spend the rest of her days.

One afternoon, Joyce sees a young woman staring back at her through her late aunt’s mirror carer Rosie, played by Elika Scere, tells her there’s nothing there but her own reflection, but when Rosie leaves,s Joyce gets the fright of her life. Battling with her aging mind, Joyce is faced with her younger self, played by Jessica Forrest. But is Joyce really losing her mind, or is the woman in the mirror telling the truth? Does she follow her head or her heart?

Daddy’s Home

Directed by Co-Creative Director of JB Shorts, Adam Cachia and written by Phil Mealey, Daddy’s Home is a masterpiece of a short play and a great comedy to end the JB Shorts show. After being kicked out of his care home Bill, played by Steve Royston, turns to his son, Gary, played by Phil, and asks if he and his new girlfriend can stay the night. After finding out the reason for the shock eviction, Gary is less than impressed with his ailing dad’s behaviour, but has no option but to let them stay.

Bill and his new girlfriend, Sandra, set out to find themselves somewhere to live, or do they? This expertly written and performed piece wouldn’t look out of place in any full-length comedy drama or soap opera.

The whole cast and crew involved in producing and putting on JB Shorts 26 deserve a round of applause. The ability to transform a theatre space using just a few simple props, minimal equipment and lighting to tell five completely different stories is a joy to watch. This is what theatre is all about. Telling stories, having a laugh on and off stage and not taking yourself too seriously – while putting on a seriously good performance.

Tickets for JB Shorts

JB Shorts 26 is on at 53two until the 12th of April, with tickets available from as little as £11.

You can get tickets here