CityLife

Be Near Me

THE Lowry celebrates its 9th anniversary with a production of quality which will be hard to surpass.

It's the first time the prestigious Donmar Warehouse in London has engaged in a co-production with the excellent Theatre of Scotland, the innovative company which has already brought us its stunning production of Black Watch.

Director John Tiffany, responsible for that success, guides this story of a flawed human being which is both personal and national, revealing in one small town the strengths and weaknesses of a nation.

Ten actors tell the story, which is interwoven with music ranging from Tallis to the Beach Boys, as he paints O'Hagan's picture of Scotland and its people.

Ian McDiarmid, adored by Star Wars fans as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, turned playwright by adapting Andrew O'Hagan's Booker nominated novel into this stage play.

Catholic priest

A previous M.E.N. Theatre Award winner, he takes the central role
of David Anderton, a Catholic priest assigned to a small town on the
Ayrshire coast where the factories and churches are empty but the people are real and initially full of welcome.

There he befriends two unstable teenagers and seduced by their free lifestyle and liberal use of substances, reveals his own weaknesses.

Performed in the packed Quays Theatre, Anderton's story is told against a background of economic troubles and bigotry, by a superb ensemble headed by the excellent Blythe Duff  (Jackie Read in Taggart) who plays Mrs Poole, the priest's educated housekeeper.

There are first rate performances from, amongst  others, Jimmy Yuill,  Jimmy Chisholme, Richard Madden, Helen Mallon and Kathryn Howden.

Faces you'll recognise from film and television appearances.

In this fascinating morality tale of love, betrayal, disgrace and eventual reconciliation, these fine actors make their characters real and human.

Congratulations all round.

Be Near Me is at The Lowry until Saturday, May 2.

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