UK Theatre Network

Kes

Darlington Civic Theatre

Forty years after British film director Ken Loach’s classic film, ‘Kes’ was premiered, Lawrence Till has produced a stunning and sublime new stage adaptation.

Based on the novel, ‘A Kestrel For A Knave’ by Barry Hines, the story focuses on Billy Casper, an adolescent with little hope in life. Bullied and ridiculed both at home and at school, he is drifting towards a life of juvenile delinquency. Then, one day, he finds an outlet from his pitiful existence through rearing and training a kestrel chick that he takes from a nest on a farm.

His interest soon turns to obsession and he ostracises himself from the negative influences of his mates and spends most of his spare time with the bird of prey. Billy’s talent for falconry leads to a relationship with the kestrel which improves his outlook on life and, for the first time in his young life, he receives praise from his English teacher after delivering an impromptu talk about the bird.

Stefan Butler, as Billy, is magnificent. His earnest and engaging performance is absolutely faultless throughout. Indeed, he leads a cast who are all technically brilliant.

Oliver Farnworth, as the bullying big brother Jud, effortlessly casts a menacing shadow across every scene in which he appears. His systematic and sadistic verbal and physical abuse of Billy is enough to make one squirm uncomfortably in your seat.

Daniel Casey, as Mr Farthing, is equally effective for entirely the opposite reason. His realisation that Billy is not just the ‘no-hoper’ that everyone else has written him off as manifests itself in some heart-warming scenes, during which Billy has the rare opportunity of actually being able to open up and connect with someone.

Other members of the cast include Mike Burnside, David Crellin, Katherine Dow Blyton, Dominic Gately, Peter McGovern, Sue Vincent and Oliver Watton.

Beautifully staged and beautifully acted, ‘Kes’ is one of the most haunting and thought-provoking plays I have seen in a long while.

Steve Burbridge.

‘Kes’ runs at Darlington Civic Theatre until Saturday 24 October 2009.

Photo: Robert Day