MIK SABIERS revels in a band that ploughs an idiosyncratic furrow of expletive laden, guitar-driven alt rock
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Hitting the right notes
A play about choral singing, hedge funds and dementia proves to be an intricate exploration of family relationships and the redemptive power of music, says TOM KING
(Left) James Fletcher as Simon and Dan Wolff as Jack
[Miles Elliott]
ANDY HEDGECOCK, MARIA DUARTE and ANGUS REID review Synthetic Sincerity, Our Hero, Balthazar, Heartstopper Forever, and A Year In London
The bard invites readers to a gig, raps for Clacton, and lays out the Burnham-Hurzeler conundrum
RON JACOBS recommends an important book that enhances the oppositional theories put forth by Fanon and, in doing so, remakes psychology itself
JAN WOOLF relishes an extensive history of our long relationship to trees in Britain that underlines the current emergency
DIANE WATT argues that while evidence of sex is not there, a 16th‑century lesbian poet could be Scotland’s answer to Gentleman Jack
KEITH RICHMOND relishes a superbly conceived modern version of Aeschylus’ drama of murderous family succession
Short Memory
Golden Goose Theatre, London
YOU would be forgiven for thinking that a play about Handel’s Messiah, short selling and Alzheimer’s disease was born of a theatrical version of Ready Steady Cook — three disparate themes, pulled out of a hat, to test the skill of the playwright in weaving together a compelling and convincing narrative.
Richard Roques has passed this entirely hypothetical challenge with flying colours: Short Memory is an adroit exploration of love, loss and the redemptive power of music, via three generations of the same family, over the course of several years.
The play begins with an on-stage choir concluding the first part of Handel’s masterpiece recounting the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ — a favourite with community choirs all over the world — whereupon husband-and-wife singers Adam and Nancy (Peter Saracen and Janet Behan) meet their grandson Simon (James Fletcher) in the audience.
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