My Beautiful Laundrette - Curve and Tour

Also here is a teaser trailer

My sister and I saw this at the final performance in Cheltenham on Saturday evening and agreed that by the end we had quite enjoyed it, but it was a very slow burn and for me the huge hurdle was the most bizarre and unnatural dialogue - if you can call it that. I can barely recall the film - other than thinking that it too was unrealistic in the behaviour it depicted - but many of the characters in this version didn't so much speak to each other or converse as make peculiar pronouncements, a propos of nothing in particular and apparently not aimed at anyone around them either - most alienating. It was like an inferior Joe Orton play and we surely can't have been the only people puzzled by this?

The cast certainly gave it their all so at the end we were probably applauding the performances and production more than the play. Another aspect which also made us uncomfortable, but far more so, was the reaction of a few audience members (apparently some extremely drunk men) who wolf-whistled when the two male leads kissed at the end of the first act. Honestly, is that something to wolf-whistle these days, and during a play in which the central relationship is that of a same-sex couple? The same people were equally obnoxious at the end and in the foyer afterwards - we couldn't get away fast enough.

Had a visit to the now refurbished Leeds Playhouse for today’s matinee performance. The newly refurbished theatre looks great with plenty of bar and cafe space to rest up pre and post show. Having been to the Playhouse a fair few times when I was living in West Yorkshire, ironically, today was my first visit to the Courtyard Theatre within the Playhouse.

Having purchased a row B stalls seat for £14, I have to say this was excellent value for money (being up close to the stage without any sightline restrictions and having a brand new seat as part of the refurbishment was a bonus). I certainly I would sit here again for future productions.

As for the production itself, I loved the staging and lighting used and the use of the music by the Pet Shop Boys and the performances of Jonny Fines and Omar Malik were ones I really bought into this afternoon as Johnny and Omar. Thankfully we didn’t have anybody ruin the more intimate moments between the two guys or when they took their shirts off.

Certainly it was a worthwhile trip across the Pennines to see this production (even if they didn’t have any or had run out of programmes today 😡. Though we did get a free cast list).

I've sat in these seats before, and they used to be in a long line next to each other and were far better spaced. Much too cramped now, I wouldn't sit there again (especially as apparently stalls front is cheaper! We paid £19!)

Saw this last night in Coventry. I've no recollection of ever having seen the film.

This was performed well, perhaps a bit dated now, but it is of its time. The audience was excellent, all behaved. The only real "oooh" moment was people reaction to the spit scene. It seemed fairly full.

The Belgrade isn't that big a theatre and is well-designed, so decent views all around. I was on the front row (excellent value at under £10, but this is also one of the cheapest regional theatres). The stage is low, although you are inches away from it and the stage is wide, so some people may prefer to sit further back. It does also mean a lot of the front row get wet at the end when the cast channel their Singin' In The Rain style enthusiasm.

I didn't spot any programmes (they may have been there somewhere), but we did get a cast list on entry, which is always appreciated. All the leads were on and I didn't spot a weak link in the company.

Afterwards, there was a Q&A. Lots of questions. A huge amount centred on the relevance of the play today and how, although the word "Paki" is less likely to be shouted in the street, there are still cultural barriers and challenges in the wider world. The audience reaction was discussed, with the different ways audience respond to two men kissing etc. A lot of school groups have been to see the play. Neither Jonny nor Omar (the leads) had seen the film before workshopping and Jonny still hasn't seen it (Gordon has of course, as he starred in it). They consider the play better developed than the film. In the film, the female characters were afterthoughts, here they are more rounded, as a result of the cast workshopping the play and being actively involved sharing ideas during its development. Most of the dialogue and the scenes from the film are still there, but they have been rearranged a bit.

The only slight downside of staying for the Q&A was chaos on the railway afterwards, but I got home eventually.

This comes recommended. It isn't perfect, but works as it can with the source material. You can well imagine what the reaction to the film would have been like in the 1980s. Coventry is a perfect venue, but if you miss it, the tour concludes in Birmingham next week (no idea why they chose two venues so close together). And, as a bonus, both Jonny and Omar have been working out and look good with their tops off, if that's your sort of thing!

Enjoyed this when I saw it this afternoon at the Birmingham Rep. Thought it was well produced and some of the themes seem to be unfortunately familiar in todays Britain. Still a well acted and performed piece enhanced by the Pet Shop Boys snippets.

Archive recording being streamed on the Curve's site on September 2 6PM until the theatre is able reopen.