Every cast-off tells a human story
May 26 2009 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal
Charity shops and the stories behind their stock have provided the inspiration for a though-provoking one-woman show opening at Live Theatre. Sam Wonfor previews Hand-Me-Down.
THERE have been a couple of occasions at the theatre when I’ve spotted a prop which could have been swiped from my humble abode. The odd Ikea coffee table, tablecloth or distinct-print curtains have all prompted a nudge, some sort of pointing gesture and completely unwarranted feelings I can only describe as pride.
Weird little things aren’t we?
But there’s a very real possibility that the audience could see something which did once actually belong to them within the confines of a production opening at Live Theatre tonight.
The chamleonesque set of Hand-Me-Down features nothing but items sourced and bought at charity shops in Newcastle and Gateshead.
So if you’ve dropped off a bag of unwanted outfits from the bottom of your wardrobe, a box of bric-a-brac from a spring clean bonanza or a mosquito net from your last tour of Africa (all will become clear), then keep your eyes peeled.
Don’t get obsessive about it though ... you’ll miss what promises to be a great night at the theatre.
The play is a one-woman show which got its first outing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year.
Newcastle-based performer Kate Craddock is the woman in question and plays seven characters throughout proceedings.
“I used to collect things from charity shops ... dresses, records, books. I had this collection of stuff and thought I could make a show out of it,” explains Kate, who moved to Newcastle from Glasgow when she was 10 and returned to Tyneside after university and jobs took her elsewhere for a few years.
“I found myself talking to Empty Space (the North East’s theatre development agency) and they put their trust in me and said ‘go ahead’.
“I originally visualised this as an installation performance piece ... but then the stories and these characters started coming out ... so everything started becoming a lot more theatrical and character driven.”
