Review: Blackpool, What a S**t Place to Die at The Bolton Octagon is ‘brave, honest and raw’

Comedy often comes from the darkest of moments.

When writer Phil Pearson met actor Mark Newsome, after seeing him in a show – something clicked and they both hit it off.

Mark had always wanted to do a one-man show and he had plenty of lived experiences to draw upon, revolving around mental health, neurodiversity and sexuality.

So, Blackpool, What a S**t Place to Die was born.

The play was a hit at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival and it returned for an encore and it hit a nerve with audiences.

It’s now back in Manchester at the Octagon Theatre and it still has the power to stir and move you, as it explores that life can sometimes be as choppy and unpredictable as Blackpool’s famous coastline.

Blackpool, What a S**t Place to Die

Mark Newsome plays Billy, a young lad who longs to be liked and appreciated for who he is.

He is working class, living in Oldham and he is outed in gay in the local Aldi. He is also autistic.

His life slowly spirals out of control, and the catalyst for this is being rejected by his grandfather, but also major rejection by himself.

Always feeling that he is not good enough or likeable enough means he turns to drink to seek solace.

He ends up in Blackpool and as his paranoia increases, he ends up in the sea attempting to take his own life.

This scene is chillingly accurate, as you can see this building up through Billy’s thought process and Lorna Munden-Davis’s sound design is evocative, as you hear the waves crashing, as this character loses his confidence and sense of worth.

Writer Phil Pearson is unafraid to confront the many issues in the play, head-on. Billy’s need to be liked pushes people away and once he turns to alcohol, his behaviour becomes even more unpredictable.

At the same time, a lack of understanding of his sexuality means that he is rejected by a key family member. And this means he seeks a way out.

This is not a depressing piece of work though, it does have glimmers of hope.

A cup of tea, a smile and “Are you okay love?” makes a world of difference and the play addresses this.

The kindness of strangers is key to supporting anyone who feels like the protagonist in this powerful play.

If you have seen gay characters with low self-worth, bullied or rejected by their family, this may feel like you are going over the same old tropes again.

But what moved me and kept me interested was rejection by a grandfather who loved this lad, until he realised he might be gay.

And the fact that this character could tell no one where he lived, as you need to ‘see it to be it.’

Director Nick Bagnall

Director Nick Bagnall is aware that play has enough salt and vinegar, to cover your chips. So he does sprinkle light comedy, songs and moments of stillness, and this means that the play is not without light touches, or laughs.

Mark Newsome loves being on stage and he is playing parts of life, mixed with fiction. When Billy says: “I fit on stage” – you believe him, as this is Newsome.

He is on stage for a full hour delivering a jam packed monologue which covers more emotions than Inside Out 2.

It is a brave and honest performance and there are no airs and graces here, this is raw. And he is willing to take on all aspects of his life, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Tickets for Blackpool, What a S**t Place to Die At the Bolton Octagon

Mark is now a CALM Ambassador, so it turns out that Blackpool was a great place to reflect and rebuild.

Blackpool, What a S**t Place to Die is at the Octagon Theatre until 19th September and can be booked here