Physical Education is the latest production from Grand Ambition at Swansea Grand Theatre — and reviewer Jonathan Marshall finds a phenomenal cast in a raw, funny portrait of what life is like for the city’s young men.
Many go to the theatre for entertainment but the medium also holds the power to inform and enlighten us about the world for all its good and bad. Grand Ambition fulfil the brief and then some with their latest play Physical Education.
We find ourselves in the boys’ changing room of a sixth form. Max, Jason, Sam, Joe and Ryan are who we’ll be spending the next hour and a half with.
From the off, the rapid-fire dialogue as the boys banter with one another indicates we’re in safe hands with Houlston. The writer, who also performs, takes us on a roller-coaster and we never quite know what to expect next.
One moment we’re laughing along and the next we’re feeling frustration, horror, awkwardness and anger. There are moments when the tension permeates in a way that’s almost overpowering.
Luke Rhodri, Ethan Thomas, Harry Lynn and Jude Blake along with Houlston are quite simply phenomenal. They each have their own story strands which we quickly invest in but it’s when they come together as a whole that the real magic happens.
We care about them; we are appalled by them and at times we don’t know how we should be feeling. A bit like these boys, each of whom is complex, confused, unsure what they feel or too afraid to show it.
Michelle McTernan offers some respite in the form of Miss Rider. Her cool, calm demeanour is a welcome contrast to the boys’ high energy.
She knows all too well of the pressures on young men and the general one size fits all labels applied to them. Anna-Sophia Tutton has a great deal of fun as student Holly who is also not afraid to pull the boys up on some of their behaviour and delivers another fine performance.
Richard Mylan‘s assured direction ensures the pace flows at a good tempo. He knows when to up the energy but also when to give breathing space — and boy do we need that.
The director excavates the best from his cast and has a clear understanding and respect of the script and the themes being addressed. Mention should also go to Kev McCurdy as fight and intimacy director with the physical scenes adding to the realism.
While the subject matter is obviously heavy, Houlston ensures humour ripples throughout and, crucially, it is always character driven. These are well-rounded, fully fleshed out people.
We see them in all their flaws and vulnerabilities as they navigate their way through adolescence. Their various story strands interconnect and the seeds are planted early so we know it’s only a matter of time before things reach boiling point.
The themes are universal but make no mistake, this is very much a play about Swansea and what life is like for young men in the city. References to places such as Wind Street and Langland add to the authenticity of the piece.
Grand Ambition is an asset to Swansea. At a time when new work is increasingly hard to get out there, the company provide a much-needed platform. It certainly pays off here.
Physical Education is at Swansea Grand Theatre‘s Arts Wing until Saturday 11 July, with performances at 1pm, 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are £20, the show runs 85 minutes and is recommended for ages 15 and over.
A BSL-interpreted performance takes place on Friday 10 July at 7.30pm, and all performances include integrated open captions. Tickets can be purchased on the theatre’s website or by calling the box office on 01792 475715.
