By Michelle Rawlins
In a theatrical world first, three plays are cleverly performed simultaneously across Sheffield’s Lyceum, Crucible and Studio, with spectacular results.
Chris Bush’s Rock / Paper / Scissors, part of Sheffield Theatre’s 50th birthday anniversary, is a skilful masterpiece, which successfully leaves convention behind, as actors leave one stage, and burst into the scene of another.
All three plays follow the story of the struggling Spencer & Son scissor factory after owner, Eddie, passes away and a battle of who will inherit the company unfolds.
Scissors focuses on the tumultuous relationship Sheffield has experienced with its steel industry, and the impact this has had on employment. It also explores the more dominant theme of how the young are impacted by the fear of an uncertain future. Questions around worker exploitation, low wages, and being left on the side lines all feature in this hard-hitting and well written production.
Thrown into the mix, amongst the more poignant moments, there’s light, with a plethora of laugh-out-loud comical moments, which ensure this play is astute at keeping the audience thoroughly engaged, as examining the complex maze of problems the youth of today are forced to navigate.
Played in-the-round, the final part in this triptych of shows is centred around the workshop of the failing scissor factory, where the apprentices chat about everything from their worries about how long they will have a job and their hopes and dreams of the futures. Despite their ongoing, and somewhat comical squabbles, their underlying fondness for one another is never far away.
Despite his eternal, but amusing grumpiness, Jabez Sykes puts in an outstanding performance as the resentful Mason. His angry ramblings, and at times mind-boggling observations on the deeper meaning of life are both bracing and thoroughly entertaining. They are punctuated with perfectly timed razor-sharp quips, ensuring there is never a dull moment.
Keeping all his workmates, including the troubled Liv (Maia Tamrakar) and complex Ava (Dumile Sibanda) grounded, is the much calmer and lovable Trent, played by Joe Usher, who makes his professional debut with a stellar performance as he reveals his difficult past.
As it becomes clear the future of the quartet of apprentices’ jobs are at risk, the group put their differences behind them, as the two parties, the late Eddie’s sister, Susie (Denise Black) and his daughter, Mel (Natalie Casey – think Two Pints Of A Lager And A Packet Of Crisps and Hollyoaks) hatch plans for the factory’s future and fight it out to claim their inheritance.
Although each play can be watched as a standalone performance, to discover how this triple bill are cleverly entwined, booking to watch all three shows will add another layer of appreciation. This was an ambitious project, where theatrical norms have been thrown out the stage door, but the result is a triumphant and outstanding success.
(pics by Johan Persson)
Showing Until July 2. Tickets here.