• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Tickets

What I Learned From Johnny Bevan at Soho Theatre

March 3, 2016 by Joseph Schofield Leave a Comment

Review of: What I Learned from Johnny Bevan
Produced by:
Luke Wright
Price:
£15 (discounts available)

Reviewed by: Joseph Schofield
Rating:
4
On March 3, 2016
Last modified:March 3, 2016

Summary:

Fast paced political tale of happy youth and wasted adulthood.

More Details

What I Learned from Johnny Bevan, performance poet Luke Wright’s first theatre show, offers a bitter eulogy to lost adolescence, abandoned dreams and youthful idealism. Performing as both Nick, the narrator, and Johnny Bevan, his best mate and hero, and a host of supporting personalities, Wright channels his characters with precision and ease, meaning his back and forth exchanges with himself are never rendered as awkward or ridiculous.

luke

Nick is the relatable one – kind of annoying, middle class, dissatisfied with laddy chats about football and cars. He gets to university and finds Johnny, the kind of friend he’s always wanted. Johnny knows about literature, politics, music and girls and, whilst his working class background, his skinny jeans and his knee high DMs are far away from what Nick thought he was looking for, he falls in with Johnny easily, finding in him a kind of spirit guide.

Its in conjuring this deepening friendship that Wright is at his most affective. We’re sold on the love between the pair, the kind of youthful obsession we’ve all had, or wanted to have. Johnny and Nick share their hopes for the country and their dreams for themselves. It’s a charming, real relationship and Nick seems better for having met Johnny.

The emotional crux of What I Learned though is found in the shift from the sunshine haze of youth, to the grey apathy of middle age. Friendship and idealism is tempered by the world, with both men broken in their own way and their relationship long since over. Elation at the rise of New Labour gives way variously, to anger, disappointment, boredom, bitterness and apathy. Johnny, working class, abandons Labour as it abandons him and drifts from squat to squat, flirting with the same dangerous politics that previously he protested.

Nick, shielded by his middle class upbringing, becomes every stereotype of the lazily apathetic lapsed-lefty, trading writing about issues for writing copy, drip-fed by marketing professionals. Incidentally, its only here that Wright’s impersonations seem cruel – Tilly and Milly, the posh, silly PR people are easy figures of fun in an otherwise politically astute piece.

Politically, What I Learned from Johnny Bevan probes some interesting territory, although, with its focus on the human relationship at the heart of the story, doesn’t always go as deep as it might. Johnny’s flirtation with UKIP links to liberal anxieties around the left wing argument for Brexit, and represents the concern that traditional Labour voters might migrate towards Farage. Similarly, in the context of the protracted battle for the party’s soul, his concern that Labour no longer represents the working class may be valid, when we consider the struggles Corbyn has had to impose his old-school socialism on the party. His popularity among young lefties would have fired up Johnny and Nick during their university days, just as they followed Blair. But now, with all their disillusionment, it seems that the torch has been passed. The show ends on an optimistic note, and perhaps Nick might represent the kind of voter Corbyn’s project needs to enlist and re-electrify. But it’s the image of an extinguished youthful optimism that haunts the piece, speaking to our own worry that we too might sell out or give up.

What I Learned from Johnny Bevan continues at Soho Theatre until 12th March.

Directed by Joe Murphy

Written and Performed by Luke Wright

Author: Joseph SchofieldJoseph is a London-based emerging Live Artist and MA Student at Queen Mary University of London. He enjoys challenging, contemporary work that speaks to a broad range of political, social and ethical concerns.

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: luke wright, Soho Theatre

Join the discussion Cancel reply

Review / The Journey To Venice at the Finborough Theatre

Bjorg Vik’s play The Journey To Venice is a delightful production, entertaining yet full of pathos. A play with a [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Tzarini Meyler talks KITES at VAULT Festival

We spoke to Artistic Director of LipZinc Theatre, writer and performer Tzarini Meyler about her upcoming show at VAULT Festival [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Naomi Westerman talks BATMAN (aka Naomi’s Death Show)

We spoke to writer and performer Naomi Westerman from Little But Fierce about her upcoming show at VAULT Festival Can [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Angharad Jones on The Swearing Jar 

From New Perspectives, The Swearing Jar is a comedy about love, heartbreak, living with the past and accepting the future. We spoke to director Angharad [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Unleash The Llama talks Five Years With The White Man

We spoke to the creators of Five Years With The White Man about the upcoming show coming to VAULT Festival [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Tim Edge talks Under the Black Rock
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • Complicité's A Minute Too Late at the National Theatre
  • Is this the real location of Ambridge?
  • Jane Eyre at the National Theatre
  • Crowdfunding In Theatre - An Overview
  • The Pros and Cons of Crowdfunding
  • Angharad Jones on The Swearing Jar 
  • Joseph Schofield
    Contributor

  • March 3rd, 2016
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!