Tom Clayton
Transported to the early noughties with Nokia phones, dial up internet and school discos, this autobiographical show from Nathan Jonathan shows what it’s like growing up in a world where you’re being told who you should be. How certain moments in your life can drastically change everything, as you react and behave in the way you’re always being told you should.
Nathan has a strong relationship with his Grandad – he looks up to him and tries to listen to the advice he’s passing on despite not always understanding quite what his Grandad means without having the life experience. Early on, Nathan establishes the rules of what it takes to be a man in the early noughties. He’s told these by his new friend Ryan when he arrives at a new school, however soon after being told these rules they encounter the school bully, Darren. Despite Ryan’s previous ‘big man’ role, he goes quiet. This initial juxtaposition from Ryan begins as an early warning sign that maybe these rules are to be questioned.
The writing is perfectly paced, jumping back and forth between Nathan’s school days and modern-day reflections on what happened. Drawing on what feels like actual conversations the language excellently matches the language used by teenagers, before jumping into more rounded sentences to reflect on the events of those years with the benefit of hindsight. He realises that his teenage concerns only felt so important then because there was nothing else to worry about. The use of music is smart: mixing up tempos, slowing it down to draw emotion or highlight importance in a scene then jumping into fast paced early indie to speed through events allowing Nathan to jump from one action to then next without it feeling jarring.
Being autobiographical, Nathan clearly wants to do justice to his early life and not skirt around the facts. Linking back to how he was taught that men were supposed to be, he then carefully reflects what’s happening in society today and the trend back towards that behaviour. This show is about how his life as is a warning to young men that that behaviour still won’t get you anywhere today.
They’re Just Small Town (Northern) Lads exceeds in every aspect of the show from lighting to performance. Without a single misstep, there’s a care and consideration put into this show to ensure everything is perfectly placed.
Recommended Drink: A can of Lager. For a true experience, drink it lukewarm from a field you’ve left to come to the show.
You can catch They’re Just Small Town (Northern) Lads at Anatomy Lecture Theatre at Summerhall from 6-16 August. Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Salvador Kent
Roe McDonnell
Hannah Hamilton
