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The Green, Green Grass of Home: Mr Jones An Aberfan Story - Finborough Theatre

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A life of hope and promise, interrupted, lies at the heart of Mr Jones: an Aberfan Story. The play follows two young people in Aberfan before and after the disaster that killed 144 people, including 116 children. It’s an emotional coming-of-age tale of intersecting lives, family, love, and the shock of tragedy. With two vivid performances and strong characterisations, you feel immersed in 1960s Welsh small-town life. It’s now running at the Finborough Theatre , after performances at the Edinburgh Festival and across Wales.  The Aberfan disaster is well known in the UK but perhaps less so elsewhere. The facts of the tragedy are confined to the programme notes rather than in the piece. On 21 October 1966, the catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip on a mountain above Aberfan engulfed a local school, killing many. The play avoids the causes and negligence, instead focusing on those working and building lives in the town.  Writer-performer Liam Holmes plays Stephen Jones, a...

Theatre: Rock of Ages



Rock of Ages which is now playing in London, is a jukebox musical of classic rock hits from the eighties. It is full of so much energy and rocked the Shaftesbury Theatre on Wednesday night so hard, that you can't help but like it. This show has played Broadway and other parts of the world and now even has a film in the works. The reasons why it has been such a success might bewilder, but you will have a good time anyway

The cast of incredibly talented people manage to do a lot with the material. And by that I mean both the overly laboured plot and the skimpy costumes. The ladies in the chorus are a particular treat as they bump and grind their way through the proceedings. The men nearby seemed to be watching the show mostly with their mouths open.


In a way it is a shame there is such a hoary story as the music and the performances are almost good enough on their own to pass for an evening's entertainment. The regular references to the fact the story is crap coupled with an audience that has probably had a few beers before the show builds up enough goodwill in any case. At least the show serves as a reminder that the eighties did give us some great music. You will be rushing to the record store itunes store to download them.

It is also nice to see 2005 X-Factor winner Shayne Ward play a slightly washed up rocker with strange sexual practices. Holding it all together is Simon Lipkin who as the narrator works the audience into a frenzy with his mildly filthy antics. He also sports an impressive mullet and collection of great t-shirts that reference boobies and camel toes. Naturally he is the most likeable character.

Actually this show could have benefited from being so much more vulgar and crass rather than a series of musical cliches. There is a mild message about following your dreams, even if they make you marry some girl and have a baby. But this show works best it delivers music, sexy ladies, and high energy... And faux cigarette lighters and an awful lot of glitter...

Upon leaving the theatre, check your body for glitter jizz. There are so many glitter cannons exploding in the finale that you will downing in the stuff... If you're screaming and cheering be prepared to swallow it too... It has opened now at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London.

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