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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...

The sex is in the beat: Kinky boots @kinkybootsuk


I finally caught up with Kinky Boots, which is currently playing at the Adelphi theatre in London. The show is the Full Monty meets Priscilla Queen of the Desert. It's a show with terrific songs, great cast and fabulous outfits.

However the story is a bit predicable. It derives its formula plot from the film of the same name. But thankfully as an added addition are a collection of songs written by Cindy Lauper that range from folk, pop and disco. On top of this are some very impressive (albeit kinky) boots.
Set in a shoe factory in Northampton, father hopes to give his shoe factory over to his son Charlie, but he would rather go to London and do marketing. But when his father unexpectedly dies, Charlie finds himself running a shoe factory that has been losing money for years.

A chance encounter in London with a drag queen named Lola gives him the idea to tap the the niche market of men who like to wear high heels. Cue drag queens descending on Northampton to put a bit a glamour in their lives (and into the dreary shoe factory set).

There are some strong performances from the cast. Matt Henry as Lola steals the show (and gets the best numbers) as the drag queen with a heart of gold, and an eye for designing sex in heels. Killian Donnelly as Charlie gets to sing some soaring ballads although has the thankless task of navigating a rather vague character that has to be slightly bossy yet ultimately lovely.

Amy Lennox as Lauren, who gives Charlie the idea to find a niche, is a hoot as the factory girl falling for the boss.

There is little subtlety in this piece. People averse to musicals should be wary as characters burst into song for no real reason.

But in the end the boots do look pretty good. Albeit some wear it better than others...


Kinky Boots is playing at the Adelphi Theatre in London.

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎



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