“Working Class Hero/ The Devil You Know” by Nottingham New Theatre
Djanogly theatre, Lakeside

Here we have two plays produced and presented by Nottingham New Theatre – in my humble opinion, one of the best student theatres in the area. This double bill is billed as an Edinburgh Fringe Double Bill. Both plays are ones that I've not seen performed at the New Theatre, so I am so pleased that these two were chosen on this occasion.

Unfortunately I've not been able to mention the actors or tech people involved as there wasn't any programmes produced.

“Working Class Hero”

This is a story about a father and his son. A son and his father with a middle ground of. football, politics, John Lennon, education, rapper Akala,and humility.

During his first semester at university, the son realises that his father is just a person like the rest of us, which, as a father of three sons I can really relate to. "Working Class Hero", which as many will know, is the title of one of Lennon's songs, is a story of understanding and discovery,

I loved the enforced "awkward" moments between the two men and you really wanted the two to hug each other, but that's not what father and son do, is it?.Even at the low moments in this lovely, warm play, you feel the love between the pair, and while there is a mutual admiration and love between the pair, there's also that invisible wall built up by the inability to converse with each other about the important things in their life.

“The Devil You Know”

Captivated by local folklore, four friends endeavour to uncover the horror that haunts their local woods. But their dreams of discovering the truth soon take a dark turn when one of them disappears.

"The Devil You Know" is a thriller which is almost on the lines as "The Blair Witch Project" and had just the right scare jump and hair raising moments to make you feel just a little uncomfortable. Something nor easy to do in a theatre.This play brings to light the demons lurking in the shadows of the internet, and exploring the effect of the supernatural on the human psyche and the power to control another's mind.

Both plays were well acted, and while both plays were very different, I can see these two being a success on the Edinburgh Fringe circuit because of the diversity between the two.

Having had the pleasure of a few years of New Theatre productions and can vouch for the incredible wealth of talent that has come from this University talent pool, on every level of the theatrical ladder, I can't wait to see what productions they have to offer this season, and the new wave of talent to come.

Here's looking forward to the new season for the Nottingham New Theatre when it opens in the near future.

All proceeds from this double bill goes to the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre.