The Season Ticket: Northern Stage, Newcastle

THIS is an adaptation of Jonathan Tulloch’s novel by Lee Mattinson; an update of the story that inspired the British film Purely Belter (FilmFour). Two young lads from Gateshead have football on their mind. All they want from life is to raise enough money to buy a season ticket for their beloved Newcastle United. But this play is not all about football, it centres around 15-year-old Gerry’s dysfunctional family in a bitter-sweet comedy of errors where everyone swears and almost everyone shouts too much.

The first half lacked pace, not helped by Jean Chan’s cumbersome set, which constantly had to be re-arranged. Thankfully the second half saved the production with deeply-felt, emotional performances all round.

Victoria Elliott’s feisty Lemsip-loving mother is a treat; her estranged brute of a drunken ex-husband is brought venomously to life by an excellent Joe Caffrey. Star performer for me was 26-year-old Will Graham, from Chester-le-Street, who inhabited Gerry’s pie-eating friend Sewell with every ounce of his being.

I would have enjoyed the talented young Newcastle actor, Niek Vesteeg’s Gerry a little more if he hadn’t delivered his lines at break-neck speed, but blame for that must lay with the director.

I’m not sure that Mattinson’s writing or Katie Posner’s directing are quite up to Premiere League standard, but nothing, save a Toon shirt, is black and white here – it’s all about the relatives.

* Runs until Saturday, October 8 (14+). Box Office: 0191-230-5151 or northernstage.co.uk

* Then York Theatre Royal, October 12-15,
Box Office: 01904 623 568 & www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

Helen Brown