Bear Left – 53two, Manchester

Director: Simon Naylor and Ollie Mills.

Music and Lyrics: Ollie Mills.

Writers: Steph Lacey, Emma Hinds, Hannah Macdonald and Mohammed Barber.

Getting stuck at a motorway service station might not be anyone’s idea of the perfect Christmas Eve, but for 12 lonely souls, it proves the ideal location for spreading Christmas cheer!

Featuring a vibrant cast, a live band, short scenes from five skilled Manchester-based writers, and an assortment of musical theatre tunes, Bear Left, is a Christmas production with a difference.

Created by Simon Naylor and Ollie Mills, the anthology weaves a tapestry of uplifting human stories set against the unlikely backdrop of Pinkerford services on Christmas Eve. Part musical, part play, part vignette piece, the action unfolds across several short scenes with accompanying songs, taking us on a unique and intriguing journey into the lives of 12 people seeking solace and answers to their existential crises at this supposedly happiest time of the year.

However, if tonight’s audience were searching for a purely feel-good Christmas show, it soon becomes clear that they’ve come to the wrong place. While the dialogue is witty and happy endings eventually abound, Bear Left does not attempt to shy away from the fact that Christmas is not in fact, a happy time for many. Instead, it is preoccupied with examining the impacts of the harsh reality of the current economic climate, and also challenging our own perceptions, creating a contemporary Christmas tale for the here and now.

We’ve all felt that moment of curiosity, observing a stranger in a bustling place and contemplating their life and circumstances. And where better to evoke this sentiment than at a motorway services? But what happens if it turns out that that stranger’s reality is very different?

Manchester-based theatre and arts venue 53two, proves the perfect location to explore this. The general buzz of the venue combined with its iconic 150-year-old high stone arches marking the bridge it is set into, perfectly emulate the feel of a service station on the M62. The set, lighting and sound design also effectively capture the essence of the setting. The use of the space by the actors with scenes occurring in different spots in the service station ensures the audience always has something new to look at throughout the performance.

Crafted based on a joint brief, by Manchester writing talent including Steph Lacey, Emma Hinds, Hannah Macdonald, and Mohammed Barber, each individual vignette boasts some beautiful if occasionally far-fetched dialogue that delves into the complex lives of the various travellers, guiding the audience through the emotional highs and lows of the characters’ stories. At first it’s unclear how the various scenes will intersect and unite the diverse group of people, (and some suspension of disbelief is required to reconcile why certain characters would be so willing to discuss their financial situation with a complete stranger), but far from a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth, each writer and therefore scene is distinctive, adding something new.

The cast including talent such as Daniel Brennan (Emmerdale, Coronation Street) do an excellent job of bringing each character’s story to life. Special mention must go to Morag Peacock for her portrayal of a mother struggling with both the trials and tribulations of raising her teenage daughter alone and the stress of her precarious financial situation.

The fantastic vocal performances of original music by Mills add an extra layer of poignancy. The music captures the festive spirit while also delving into the deeper emotional layers of the human experience. It’s hard to imagine a dry eye in the house when Linford Johnson’s character, a young busker, performs a moving solo about the impact of losing his grandad. However, the sound, crucial in a production featuring original music, isn’t always the clearest, occasionally putting a dampener on some the musical elements and dialogue.

There is plenty of humour- thinly veiled parody’s of popular brands such as ‘Starbarks’ Coffee and ‘Big Mancs’ and the running ‘will she won’t she’ gag, as we wait to see whether one unfortunate soul will give birth by the side of the M62, (spoiler alert, she will) provide endless entertainment. The surprise guest narrators in the form of a couple of crows masterfully portrayed by the silliest puppets you are ever likely to encounter, get the biggest laugh of the evening with their musings on the big questions such as what it means to be mortal.

In conclusion, Bear Left is a heartwarming and festive anthology that captures the spirit of Christmas while delving into the universal themes of human connection and introspection as the audience embark on a journey with the weary travellers. It’s a celebration of humanity at the crossroads, offering a unique and eventually uplifting way to kick off the holiday season. Yes the allusion to baby Jesus as we finally welcome the new arrival is a little cheesy, but hey, it’s Christmas!

Runs Until: 23 December 2023