Smell of the greaspaint

It was the first show at my pub theatre at The Station Pub in Sutton Coldfield last night and it was a good one. Contractions is a play which at times is very funny but slowly, among the laughs, it becomes quite disturbing as you see the way large companies try to control and manipulate their staff.

It might seem a bit far fetched but then again a couple of years ago no one would have ever believed a British Government would propose a law giving the police, and no doubt a host of other agencies hidden in the small print, the right to stop anyone they felt like in the street and demand ID for no reason beyond being a bit bored or feeling a bit vindictive.

So a play taking corporate policy to extremes might just be a warning of dangers to come if we don't wake up to the fact we are already living in a police state.

But back to the play and Natasha James and Bronagh Lagan were excellent in what is a difficult play for the cast with a torrent of dialogue.

The play is on again tonight if anyone is interested. It is £8 on the door and it starts at 8pm with a Q&A session afterwards.

I suppose I ought to mention that the sound and lighting were particulalry excellent and myself and Tom Roberts, from the Lichfield Garrick Rep, will be doing the job again tonight.