Dury's Graeae tribute

Graeae Theatre are well known for championing disabled performers. In their latest show, Reasons To Be Cheerful, they pay tribute to legendary musician Ian Dury. Mik Scarlet saw it for Disability Now

As I entered the theatre I was hoping that I would leave filled with theatrical luvvie style hyperbole ready to write my review. Instead I left with my head shouting, “IT’S REALLY, REALLY GREAT! GO SEE IT, GO SEE IT!”

Please allow me to elaborate.

Graeae Theatre’s latest show, Reasons To Be Cheerful is a lively and heartwarming snippet in the lives of a group of Essex punks, as they battle to go and see Ian Dury play live at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1979. Now I was 14 in 1979 and Ian Dury was my hero, so I understand their desire to get to the gig (my mum said I was too young to go to London on my own so I didn’t go – boo). However, that is selling this piece short. It’s so much more. The superb story has it all. Love, life, death and Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll. And its pant-wettingly funny. I won’t tell you too much more as I don’t want to give the plot away.

The three main leads, Stephen Lloyd, Stephen Collins and Nadia Albina shine throughout the show. Karen Spicer’s comedy timing is second to none as Pat, the mother, and Gary Robson gives acting gold as Bill/Bobby. The mechanism of a play within a play really works, making the piece seem real and drawing the audience in.

Threading through all this is the music of Ian Dury, performed brilliantly. John Kelly truly captures Dury’s vocal style and the entire cast do every song proud. A nod must go out to Daniel McGowan not only for being great as the unlikeable Tory-voting Dave but also for playing the super difficult double saxophone solo in “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick”.

After the show Mat Fraser, who plays drums with the band (who knew he was such a good drummer – multi-talented git), asked me to be brutally honest in my review. He knows I was sacked from being a music reviewer with Disability Now many years back for my... (cough) honesty, and so knew my review would be truthful. Annoyingly RTBC is so good even I can’t find fault.

Graeae are not only one of the best integrated theatre groups in the UK at the minute, they are one of the best theatre groups in the UK, period!

Do yourself a favour, go and see Reasons To Be Cheerful. Then go again. I know I will be.