With my return to regular blogging (let’s see how long this lasts), I guess I want to use this as a way to express my thoughts on whatever I’ve been up to. Most of the time that will be gaming, music, writing, running, or whatever other hobby I’ve picked up that week. I actually wrote a big list of things I want to write blogs about and then stared at it blankly, paralysed by choice. So, instead of picking one from the list I’m going to write about something very cool that I went to see at the weekend.
I don’t go out on the town very often these days. Trips to the theatre are even rarer. Barring a couple of comedy shows, the last time I went to see a big dramatic production was to see The Ladykillers in the west end while in London for my first wedding anniversary a decade ago.
A few years ago I saw Neil Gaiman post glowing review after glowing review for a theatre adaption of his novel The Ocean At The End Of The Lane. Each one described it using words like “magical”, “thrilling” and “spectacular”. Now reviews often use words like that without really meaning it, but the general vibe for this show was that it was something very special. It made me sad that it was stuck in the west end while I was at the other end of the country.
Mostly, the only shows that tour are big musical productions like Wicked, guaranteed to draw a crowd in even the most provincial theatres. But then His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen included in their programme for 2023 a surprising entry amidst the musicals, operas and comedians – Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean At The End Of The Lane – now touring the country. Tickets were booked, time passed on and this weekend we made our way into the theatre for a magical adventure.
Now I don’t want to post spoilers. I went in to this very cold, having not read the source novel and deliberately not looked for reviews of the show (aside from aforementioned Gaiman twitter posts) for fear of ruining any surprises. I am very glad I did! With that in mind I’ll be keeping this quite vague.
The show centres on family and relationships, but it’s also a story about old magic, witches and evil spirits. It packs a lot in. There’s bits of coming of age stories, some retro horror (my wife was reminded of Stranger Things), fairy tales and classic psychological thrillers all thrown in the mix.
But what really stands out are the staging and the performances. Firstly, the actors and the stage hands / dancers are superb. All the performances were brilliant. There was a weight at the heart of the story so that where the beats were heavy and emotional, you really felt for the characters. All credit to the cast for that.
Then there was the staging. The use of large, moving props, puppetry, stage magic, dance, lighting and sound was awe inspiring. The sheer inventiveness of each spot and how well they pull it off is amazing. Not only that, the hit rate. It’s like the joke rate in Airplane! but for stage tricks. At one point there’s a clever piece with an actor and a door, where the first time it happens you think “oh that was clever, but I see how they did that” then they do it again, and again, and again, and again. Each time building it up until you’re driven as mad as the character on stage. It’s so good.
They really pulled all the stops out to make a fantasy story feel genuinely magical on the stage. I can’t fathom how much effort must have gone in to designing each set piece and moment of sorcery. Not to mention the rehearsals required to get such a physical performance right, night after night.
Of course, at the end of it we all turned to each other and said those fateful words “we need to go to the theatre more often”. Hopefully, at least, it won’t be a decade before we make it back for another show. But for now, if you’re reading this and near one of the tour locations for The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, go book tickets! It’s magical, thrilling and spectacular!
https://oceanonstage.com/
Mince and Skirlie 