Shirley Valentine Review

The crowd waiting outside the The Factory Theatre in Newmarket for the opening night of Shirley Valentine is an eclectic one, and the atmosphere is excited and enthusiastic.

The theatre itself is a great performance space. It’s clearly dedicated to nurturing and fostering talent, and as such it’s a fantastic resource.

The show itself is an unexpected delight. The Olivier Award Winning Comedy by Willy Russell stars Nancy Schroder and is directed by John Callen.

We watch Shirley as she talks to the wall whilst preparing her nagging husbands egg and chips, the microwaving of the egg draws an especially hearty laugh. Her life isn’t quite what she expected it to be, so when her friend wins a trip for two to Greece Shirley spontaneously agrees to two weeks of sun, sea and whatever else takes her fancy.

The plays takes us through the evolution of Shirley into an emancipated, adventurous woman – the woman she’s always wanted to be.

A one-woman show is a tough act, and playing Shirley Valentine, a much-loved and revered character, in no easy feat. Nancy Schroder in the eponymous role is engaging and cheeky, and the audience hangs on her every word. She essentially works the room, letting the audience indulge in lengthy laughter at the tongue-in-cheek gags.

The magic of Russell’s writing allows this Liverpudlian housewife to bring her story to life in one monologue. A charming and hilarious few hours of theatre.

This production is a fantastic example of small-scale theatre delivering a wonderfully big scale performance.

Newmarket Stage Company (Tuesdays With Morrie, Educating Rita) & The Stage Company bring this heart-warming play to Newmarket, Auckland after a sell out season throughout New Zealand.

Shirley Valentine is running at the Factory Theatre, Newmarket until the 25 October

Reviewed by Natalie Ridler

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