Writers: Not Too Tame, Jimmy Fairhurst, Andrew Butler, Louise Haggerty
Director: Jimmy Fairhurst
25 years ago, a piece of Salford wasteland suddenly sprouted an extraordinary building. The Lowry promised not only to add to the region’s rich cultural offer, but also to be at the centre of a local regeneration, promoting economic growth and community pride.
This week, at the heart of its quarter century celebrations, the Lowry’s stage hosts 25 young people whose lives will have been changed by the chance to work with professional actors, writers and creatives to create a brilliantly conceived and produced piece of original theatre. Gods of Salford is 90 minutes of the best high-energy, fun and poignant theatre you’ll see anywhere. Made with Warrington-based theatre company Not Too Tame, this co-production with Lowry (who’ve celebrated their birthday by dropping the ‘The’) embodies what cultural learning can be about when it’s given the resources and the commitment it deserves, something that our schools are struggling to do. These 25 young people have been given the opportunity to shine – and they do it like crazy.
Professional actors play the alpha Gods. Like all Greek Gods/grown-ups Zeus (Anthony Quinlan), Hera (Laura Harrison) and their messenger Hermes Alpha (Jimmy Fairhurst) have some serious flaws. They can’t keep their arguments to themselves, tirelessly inflicting their wrath on the ordinary folk. But they soon find out that the ordinary folk are not so ordinary, in fact they’re pretty extraordinary, as they prove by outsmarting the Gods and by working together.
Gods of Salford weaves Greek myths and real stories inspired by the young people’s lives together in a beautiful and powerful way. At the heart of all their stories is the fear of failure, the debilitating nature of feeling scared, and the weight of expectation – of adults, of peers, and that they put on themselves. It’s tough being a young person right now – but here they remind us of their resilience, determination and imagination. Like the ‘nobodies’ of ancient Greece, don’t underestimate them.
Andrew Butler and Louise Heggerty’s script is fast-paced, edgy and funny. There’s great physical theatre and music, and Jimmy Fairhurst’s direction moves seamlessly between energetic anarchy and heart-rending stillness, working the large cast with amazing fluency. While it’s very much an ensemble piece, there are some lovely moments that deserve a shout out. Max Healy’s great comedy timing as Alpha Beta, Mubarak Al Tahir and Charlie Hill’s totally brilliant physical routine as the guards, Libby Needles’s powerful little ‘feel the fear’ speech, and Emily Lynch’s feisty stepping up to fight the Minotaur. But the whole cast and creative team should feel super proud of what they have achieved here.
Set on a thrust stage, there are some slightly difficult sightlines and lighting challenges, but given the whole thing feels like a riotous party, that just becomes part of the experience. Gods of Salford is an emotionally charged and uplifting show that it would be hard not to love.
Runs until 30 April 2025
