The latest performance from a group of young actors who represent Nottingham on screen more than any other organisation in the city
For those unititiated into the ways of the workshop, this is a small constantly changing group of young actors who probably do more for the presence of Nottingham on screen than any other organisation in the city.
Famous names that have gone through the workshop over the past decade or so include Samantha Morton (Minority Report) and Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow from Coronation Street) as well as many others. Dozens of cast members for director Shane Meadows films have been found in the workshop as well as various child TV actors.
The aim of this performance was to showcase some of the new crop of talent. It started as a talent show, but then became a play in an interesting switch between stage genre's. It was set in the dark, but friendly confines of the Worskhop space underground on Stoney Street, in the Lace Market.
The performance began with a tongue-in-cheek magic show from Jack 'the magic' Curtis. With more than a hint of a young Tommy Cooper about him, he proceeded to wow the crowd with his take on magic circle methods. Some of the magic tricks were impressive, but what shined out most was the energetic and enjoyable manner in which he performed them.
Next up came Dominic Elliot Spencer whose set compromised of him telling some fairly risque jokes about sex and racism. A naturally funny comedian, his material was perhaps a little restricted by the fact that his parents were in the room... After these came Bedders and Pike, played by Chris Roebuck and Luke Gell, which is where the night began to change into a more drama-based piece. They began (and stayed) in the toilets, fretting about going onstage to the 'tough crowd'.
They worked alongside compere Alan (Silas Simpson) to create the illusion of a full switch from the front to the back of the stage. Gel was reminiscent of a young Peter Kaye and Roebuck was edgy and nervous enough to offer plenty for each of them to spur off. All in all this was a great show of talent and the only disapointment was probably the ending. Not that it was a bad ending, just that it ended too soon. Still, we're likely to see much more from the Central Drama Youth Workshop.
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