REVIEW: Violence and Son by Gary Owen at Golden Goose Theatre 29 Aug – 9 Sept 2023

‘a gripping drama for those who want to be challenged’ ★★★★

Thinking man’s theatre, for those who want to be challenged, Gary Owen’s play was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre in 2015. Set in Wales, this production at Golden Goose Theatre is billed as a play about ‘the cycle of violence passed down to our children and our attempts to fight it’. It also raises the question about whether violence is ever an acceptable answer. Alongside the drama, there is the very fun theme particularly for Dr Who enthusiasts.

17-year old Liam is a big fan and has just returned from a Dr Who convention with fellow enthusiast 18 year-old Jen. There’s a burgeoning romance here, but it’s complicated because Jen already has a boyfriend and isn’t able to commit to Liam. Their innocent chatter is punctuated by Rick (Liam’s dad) and his partner, Suze, having sex in the room next door, much to the horror of the youngsters.

The older pair enter the scene and once the embarrassment subsides, they insist on buying fish and chips to share along with cans of lager. There follows, over two acts, a story of coercion and heavy handedness, which results in entanglement.  How far are we shaped by our family circumstances?

Lawrence Carmichael as the dad, Rick, is all muscle, mouth and boozy aggression. In his softer side we see that he has taken Liam into his home just six months ago, after the boy’s mother died. He isn’t actually sure whether he is really his son.  Henry Andrews as Liam, is well spoken, quick witted and intelligent; a stranger in these parts who doesn’t yet fit in.   He also runs rings around his dad with his constant teenage wind ups and clever retorts (a typical teenage clever-clogs). There is an utter realism to these conflicts which might have audiences rooting for one side or the other. 

Lyndsey Ruiz as Jen embodies sassy youth and the younger feminine perspective on love, sex and romance. Anna Hawkes as the older woman is the peace maker, the voice of reason but even she cannot prevent history repeating itself.

That earlier comment with the question about whether violence is ever the right answer refers to backstory in the show. Rick punched a lad who was touching up young women in a local pub (where Jen was also assaulted). The lad didn’t do it again, but on the other hand he’s a boy who had learning difficulties. Just as already mentioned there are no easy answers here. 

The drama presents a gripping story, biting social realism, sympathetically played by the actors. The Dr Who theme-tunes which punctuate the show are very effective (with its distorted sounds) reminding us of our younger selves and feelings of fear associated with watching the show.  The whole drama is well crafted by the director, Aaron Blackledge and movement director Andrew Darren Elkins.  Also, a special mention to the scenes of domestic violence which are seamlessly choreographed by the fight director Lawrence Carmichael and pulled off really well by the two male actors.

VIOLENCE AND SON by Gary Owen

Golden Goose Theatre (Oval station on the Northern Line)

29 Aug – 9 Sept 2023 7pm

Run Time approx. 2 hours 30 minutes

​Box Office https://www.goldengoosetheatre.co.uk/violence-and-son

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Creatives

Writer - Gary Owen

Director - Aaron Blackledge

Producer/Marketing - Meighread Dandeneau

Marketing Assoc. - Lyndsey Ruiz

Designer - Jock Maitland

Movement Director - Andrew Darren Elkins

Fight/Intimacy - Lawrence Carmichael

Accent Coach - Alix Dunmore

Cast

Liam - Henry Andrews

Jen - Lyndsey Ruiz

Suze - Anna Hawkes

Rick - Lawrence Carmichael

Reviewed by Heather Jeffery