CityLife

Hatch

Hatch
24:7 Theatre Festival 2010: New Century House
July 27, 2010

Colette Kane's play is her second production for the 24.7 Festival. A couple of years ago Ways To Look At Fish was commended and since then she's written for Paines Plough, The Globe in London, The Actors' Centre and the Roundhouse among others.

This time Kane's new work, Hatch, is about a dysfunctionl family from Liverpool. A brother and sister are trying to set up a new home for their absentee father who is newly released from prison. Apart from his criminal past there's also an alcohol problem and they struggle to keep him off the booze and away from his old mates who first got him into trouble.

The cast of three are all professional actors and give good performances. Helen Carter is Luna, the daughter with a mysterious night job who desperately tries to re-unite the family. Helen's just completed a tour of Dad's Army Marches On and has appeared in several professional productions.

Joe Shipman plays her brother Sean who longs to share personal time with his dad. Joe is an experienced stage actor who's just made his first film and is off to direct soon at the Edinburgh Festival.

Brian L Stephens, a stand-up comic turned actor, has the pivotal role of Conel their father - who tries and fails to live up to their expectations until he gets a wake-up call.

There's a strong analogy to the ducks hatching from their nest outside the window and the uselessness a father feels once a child is born and his purpose appears to be over.

Presumably this flat is on the ground floor and in a more rural area than initially expected but the use of some sound effects may have given more of a sense of place.  However it's an interesting hour long experience.

The 24:7 Theatre Festival runs until August 1 at New Century House, Manchester. Check www.247theatrefestival.co.uk for listings and times.
 

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