Review: Ancient Lights at the Royalty Theatre

Ancient Lights is one of those ‘love it/hate it’ plays. And I love it!

Shelagh Stephenson’s attack on modern celebrity and identity takes a hilarious and incredibly touching look at the images that the modern celebrity creates for his or her self. The play centres around superstar actor Tom Cavalero, an American high flyer who just so happens to hail from County Durham. He arrives in Northumberland in the middle of a blizzard to settle down over Christmas and take time off from the spotlight. But can Tom really escape his true self?

Lauren Waine, a member of the theatre’s youth academy was incredibly funny as fame hungry Joni, she beamed energy and talent, showing exactly why she’s a member of the National Youth Theatre. Her onstage mother just so happens to be her real mother too and the chemistry between the two was evident. Jude Elphinstone was also brilliantly funny in her role, encompassing a slightly dippy persona to her character as well as David Farne as Tad, the Irish Man from Hull. Helen Bowie and Jeff Page also deserve a mention as they performed equally as well as the rest of the cast.

The Royalty has always tried to showcase new and inventive drama and Corinne Kilvington’s directing début at the theatre certainly pushed the boundaries of conventional story telling. The technological aspects off the play were both effective and impressive.

All in all, Ancient Lights is a thought provoking, funny and interesting bit off theatre, and although there is some bad language, I don’t feel it is at all excessive nor unnecessary.

For more info visit royaltytheatre.co.uk