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In 2008, television writer Ed Jones penned an article for the Guardian about his experiences of racism and violence while living in Salford. Now, he's turned his story into 'Exit Salford' - an hour-long play, which has become one of the darlings of 2009's 24/7 Theatre Festival.
After selling his home in the Guardian-belt suburb of Chorlton and using the equity to buy a £30,000 home in Salford, the socially moral writer managed to forge a precarious friendship with the youths who refused to leave his doorstep. But the finely balanced relationships turned to aggression and violence after he rented rooms out to foreign lodgers.
Jones has changed the name of his character to Luke - perhaps in an attempt to universalise his account. But the sense of a personal story is very much prevalent, with Luke (played by Alan French) in constant storytelling mode, directly addressing the audience as the action is played out around him.
Simple props are used to create an extremely minimal set, which allows the action to flow smoothly from scene to scene and the pace to never slacken.
A strong cast of five doubles up to play the many characters that Jones encountered during his time in Salford. Rebecca Elliot as Adele is especially convincing, while Emily Spowage switches accents convincingly and outfits swiftly to play both Luke's French girlfriend and his Polish lodger.
The play raises some tough social questions and lifts the carpet on a world that many people would choose to ignore. But it doesn't preach. It doesn't patronise. It doesn't criticise and it doesn't romanticise. It just tells an honest story, points out some home truths, and leaves the audience, and society, to form their own questions and conclusions.
Tin Can Rating 4/5
Read Ed Jones'original Guardian article here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jan/04/race.ukcrime
Tags: exit salford jayne robinson theatre stage notes
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