Written by Thomas for Theatre & Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review

The award-winning Hope Mill Theatre is a small fringe venue with very cosy spacing situated in Ancoats, Manchester. Known for its high-quality productions of musicals, original work, and other events. With other endeavors such as the Hope Mill Theatre School, its pioneering arts access to locals, keeping the arts alive and broadening its reach through other charitable affairs.

Walking into the set, we’re greeted by the pretty bare space of the exposed brickwork of the black box theatre with LED strip lights curating what would be the front of a more traditional stage, with that and the only other piece of set, a cluster of cardboard boxes, upstage.

A one-man one-act play, A Manchester Anthem, follows the story of Tommy, a born and bred working-class Mancunian, on his last night out before moving to Oxford University. Struggling with his sense of identity, his hoity-toity new friends, his down-to-earth old friends, what they represent, and where he fits within this kaleidoscope of people.

Tom Claxton flashes his acting chops with a masterful performance of numerous characters throughout, changing from his disdainful coffee shop boss to his sentimental mother and his coked-up classmates. Claxton totals approximately ten characters within the hour. A true character chameleon, seamlessly shapeshifting his gait, his voice, and mannerisms – interjected with snippets of narration keeping the audience in the know – we are enveloped in the world of these people.

What the book lacks in time span is more than made up for in clever writing, excellent use of literary techniques, and very specific vocabulary, all of which aid in creating the images desired to be seen in the audience’s mind’s eye. Originally creating the play after discussing all things life with Tom Claxton, which explains why the performance feels so real, writer Nick Dawkins presented the first draft of the play to Claxton as a birthday present before being transformed from script to stage.

This production would not be so successful without the exceptional use of sound and lighting, curated by Sam Baxter and Calean Orlam. In a space as empty as small as the Hope Mill and as empty as the set was this evening, the clever use of the LED lights, isolated lighting and lighting levels harmoniously paired with the soundscapes, levels of sounds and sound tracks used transport the audience through smooth scene changes and so cleverly support the already exquisite story-telling by Claxton.

A Manchester Anthem played at Hope Mill Theatre from 29 July - 2 August ahead of a run at Riverside Studios from 19 August - 13 September.

★ ★ ★ ★

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