The Higher You Climb, The Further You Have To Fall

Happy March everyone! I cannot believe the first 2 months of this year went away in the blink of an eye! But onto better news - here's to the first trip to the Lowry this year - and first play of the year too!

This is an adaptation of possibly my favourite book ever (or at least right up there with the likes of the Harry Potter books). Last Saturday night, I saw the stage adaptation of Noughts & Crosses, based on the book by former Children's Laurate Malorie Blackman.
It has just finished its run at Salford (I actually saw it the last night, as it was the only night I could go due to either work commitments or even performances being completely sold out!!). It was playing in the smaller Quays Theatre, where I have previously seen Nell Gwynn and Around The World In 80 Days.

The 1st out of 4 books in the series (soon to be 5 as of Summer 2019), it is also being adapted into a BBC series - "Not another depressing drama!" my Mum will say but oh well.
This hasn't been the first time it has been adapted for the stage, as it was originally done in 2008 with the RSC, and starred future Game of Thrones hunk Richard Madden as Callum.

The story is based on Romeo and Juliet in a parallel society (of which I will get to in a minute) - Blackman herself has said that Shakespeare is a big influence to her, and another of her novels, Chasing The Stars, is based off Othello (but set in space - another one I recommend).
This time, our Romeo is Callum, a Nought, and Juliet is Persephone (or Sephy), a Cross. In their society, the Crosses are in a position of power whereas the Noughts are oppressed - and there is deep racial tension between the two of them.

Friendship between a Nought and a Cross is forbidden, let alone love...

Personally, I felt that there could have been more chemistry between Callum (Billy Harris) and Sephy (Heather Agyepong); but actually, come to think of it there was no one in the cast of 8 who really stood out for me in a good or bad way. The "star" really is the plot line and the themes behind the storyline.

It doesn't just tackle racism and segregation - but also terrorism, alcoholism, mental illness, capital punishment, political corruption and more. Sometimes it these take away from the centre of the story a bit, which is Sephy and Callum's relationship, probably why there could have been a bit of lacking chemistry, but it truly is a story that still, unfortunately, needs to be told.

There is an excellent piece in the front of the programme (speaking of which - it was only £2.50!!….. I repeat £2.50!!!!!!) Sorry, where was I... Oh yeah, the piece was written by director Esther Richardson, and it spoke of when she met Blackman to discuss the adaptation. The summer beforehand, MP Jo Cox had been shot by a white supremacist, and the referendum result had resulted in a sharp rise in xenophobic attacks and abuse.
She wrote that Blackmans' greatest wish was for Noughts & Crosses to no longer be relevant.

The tour is heading off next to Colchester - and then onto Bristol, Brighton and more, so if it is coming near you, and you like the sound of it, then I would absolutely go and see it. If you're not able to, I would recommend going to your local Waterstones and picking up a copy of the book.
Both of these are for the same reason - the story of Noughts & Crosses (and its subsequent sequels), is a story that needs to be heard.