Our Day Out – Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool

Book: Willy Russell

Music/Lyrics: Willy Russell & Bob Eaton

Additional Music: Chris Mellor

Director: Bob Eaton

Reviewer: John Roberts

The Public Reviews Rating:

Going back to school is never easy, but going back to a school you created over 20 years ago and giving it a complete overhaul, modernising it and transforming it was always going to be a difficult task, but Willy Russell alongside Bob Eaton have managed to send the show to an all new high, not only thanks to its lively new score, its witty script but also thanks to the care and professionalism of the seriously talented younger cast, who pore their heart and soul out from start to finish.

Mrs Kay’s progress class are off on their annual trip out, this year to Alton Towers, however the constantly grumpy Mr Biggs has heard about this and changed the class’s trip last minute and now the class are Conway bound. Hilarity reigns as the kids from Liverpool run riot, causing mischief with condom machines, penguins and castles.

The 27 strong cast is mainly made up from local youngsters who are virtually back for another year following the sell out success of its original run last year, and the show feels even stronger because of this. These young professionals give their all throughout, with not one ounce of nerves showing. Mia Molly gives a beautiful wide eyed portrayal of Amy the girl who would rather stay at the beach where it’s ‘Nice’ than have to go back home and face the stark reality that faces her. Sophie Fraser and Abby Mavers as the overly sexed teenage girls Jackie and Carlene are fantastic and give such strong and assured performances that they really are destined for bigger things in the future. Jack Rigby shows a natural flair for comedy in his enigmatic take on class clown Digga and Chris Mason rounds things of nicely with a hard edged but slightly soft in the middle turn as Reilly. Kelly Forshaw and Sinead Thompson as the two incredibly bored teens made sure that we could never be bored of their performance. Credit must also be given to Caitlin Evans from the younger cast who really shone and has such a strong stage presence that it was hard to take your eyes off her.

Pauline Daniels as the caring Mrs Kay gave a heart-warming production so different to the harder edged roles we are used to seeing her play. Mark Moraghan is bitingly sharp as the touchy Mr Briggs, whilst Stephen Fletcher, Keiran Cunnigham and Georgina White tighten things up and round off this uniformly excellent cast.

Bob Eaton’s direction is consistently brilliant, possessing so much energy, the piece flows faster than the unbelievably focused and performed street dance choreographed by Beverley Norris-Edmunds. The design of the show created by The Royal Courts resident designer Mark Walters keeps things simple with a striking and flexible set and the music comes thick and fast, with an air of panache thanks to Howard Gray’s excellent musical direction.

This is a rare theatrical gem of a show, it’s hilarious yet poignant and you can’t help but be touched by the underlying subtext of the piece, this really is a must see show and I can only hope that a full cast recording is produced ASAP.

“No one can take this time away, no matter what they do, no matter what they say, we couldn’t give a shit ‘cos it was BRILLIANT…MAGIC…FIT!”