Theatre visit

 

Come From Away - Norwich Theatre Royal.

Back before the pandemic I used to go to the theatre an awful lot - which was great from both a cultural point of view and for the train reading time it gave me but not so good on the bank balance.

Post pandemic I think I've been to the cinema far more than I've been to the theatre which is not something I thought I'd say!

In the last month or so however I've been to the Theatre Royal here in Norwich twice - the first time was for an evening with Michael Palin celebrating the publication of his latest volume of diaries. This was a really nice evening - I wish I had half of his energy that's for sure. I've also now read the diaries he was promoting and loved them a lot too.

Then this week I went on a solo outing to see the musical Come From Away - I knew the outline of the plot for this and had heard (and enjoyed two) of the songs but also had a really strong recommendation from a friend that this was a show not to be missed.

(In case you aren't familiar with the show it tells one story from 9/11 - how 7000 passengers from planes caught up in the American airspace closure after the attacks were grounded in a small Canadian town in Newfoundland and how the five days they were there played our, and ultimately affected all involved.)

My friend was absolutely right and from the opening bars of the song I had goose bumps which didn't really vanish throughout the 100 minutes of theatre. It was incredible the way that a cast of just 12 performers managed to tell the story of the people of Gander and the 7000 passengers just by simply putting on (or taking off) hats and coats. I could follow who was who at all times and was emotionally swept away - I'm glad that I took tissues!

I can't remember the last time I was so moved by a piece of theatre, and didn't feel manipulated into the standing ovation at the end (Motive and the Cue I'm looking at you here).

The tour is on for another few months and I am actually in two minds as to whether I want to see it again or not - it was such a perfect afternoon that a repeat viewing might change this.  I can however see the cast recording for this is going to be on hard repeat for a while.