Take Me to Your Leader
★★★★☆ Effervescent
theSpace on The Mile (Venue 39): Sat 3 – Fri 23 Aug 2024
Review by Hugh Simpson
Unexpected things keep popping up in Take Me to Your Leader from Headrush Theatre and New Celts at theSpace on the Mile.
The title of Lex Joyce’s play might suggest a story of alien invasion; or it might be a jokey reference to hierarchical power struggles. It’s actually both, in an example of that most underused of genres – the science fiction/labour relations mash-up.
Take me to your leader. Pic: Iain Davie
Nebula Inc is a research facility based in Scotland and owned by egomaniac billionaire (is there any other kind?) Amadeus Klein. The company uncovers possible evidence of extra-terrestrial life on Titan just as its undervalued interns are about to join a nationwide strike.
There is something of a freewheeling nature to Joyce’s script, with the various different plot strands simply stuffed in together rather than being neatly tied. There is also a good deal of meta-theatrical content, with characters musing on their place in the story, and attention drawn to performers playing more than one role.
Which could all prove very annoying, but actually works very well, with the play fizzing with ideas, Iain Davie’s surefooted direction adding coherence, and the cast attacking it with glee.
Ewan Little plays both intern Wes and the half-crazed, Heelys-sporting Armie with huge energy, contrasting well with Samara Telford’s more grounded portrayal of Wes’s fellow intern Quinn.
Take me to your leader. Pic: Iain Davie
Emily Mahi’ai (who also provides the production’s effective design) is calculating as Klein’s enforcer Johnson, while Kikelomo Hassan is very fine indeed as student Mae and scientist Schneider.
Zander Donaldson plays head geologist Cooper with a commendable naturalness, words spilling out in a combination of enthusiasm and awkwardness; other minor roles suggest he is a perfumer of real versatility.
The sound and lighting (designed by Ewan Little, operated by Darren Walls) are an integral part of the play and discharged with skill.
There is such a good-hearted charm to the production, and so many funny lines, that its occasionally lop-sided nature and over-reliance on film references to make points can easily be excused. The end result has an odd charm and an energy that overcome most possible objections.
Running time: One hour and 10 minutes (no interval)
theSpace on the Mile (Space 3), 80 High St, EH1 1TH (Venue 39)
Saturday 3 – Friday 23 August 2024
Odd dates only: 1.40 pm
Details and tickets at: Book here
Facebook: @headrushtheatre
Instagram: @headrushtheatre
TikTok: @headrushtheatre
X: @headrushtheatre
ENDS
Sometimes you can pick up on artistic differences within a cast and with these guys you completely feel their team spirit
See it guys, you won’t be disappointed
An excellent show and brilliantly performed by a young talented and enthusiastic cast.
An excellent script with humour but a serious undertone too .
Well worth a visit!!