(God Save My) Northern Soul | Park Theatre

“I lost my mum before I lost my virginity. I'd call that unfair!” 

In her debut work as a writer/performer, (God Save My) Northern Soul, Natasha Cottriall explores grief, sex, and of course, Northern Soul. Cottriall is already established as both writer and performer, with her recent play HOME being longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize and shortlisted for the Sheila Delaney award and the Alfred Fagon award, but in (God Save My) Northern Soul, directed by Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder, she brings the two disciplines together for the first time.

Cottriall’s semi-autobiographical character Nicole is just 19 when her mum dies, leaving her with a house, a BMW, a sandwich shop, and a whole host of problems. The play navigates the period between her mum’s death and her funeral, as Nicole is confronted with the tedious and heartbreaking admin side of dealing with a loss, as well as aspects of adulthood which she had never considered, such as the weekly shop. 

Along for the ride are straight-talking best friend Sally and Nicole’s strait-laced grandmother, who Cottriall also portrays, as well as host of other side characters including a solicitor who wears too much brown, a camp Catholic priest, and a brief love interest who considers munching cheesy garlic bread to be foreplay.

The themes explored in the 55-minute play are not necessarily groundbreaking, but they are told with warmth and wit, and will be relatable to many in the audience. 

Nicole and her mum also shared an obsession with Northern Soul, with Nicole ruefully sipping from her mum’s Wigan Casino mug, and music piped in by sound designer Chris James at various points throughout the piece, sometimes diegetically as the set includes a record player.

Alex Marker’s set does well in general to evoke the musical themes at the heart of the piece, with towers of speakers cleverly concealing the props which Cottriall needs for the various scenes, and a checkerboard dance floor (which is actually used as such, complete with mirrorball, on several occasions). However, the connection in the play itself could be further developed, as when it is done well, such as in the funeral scene, it truly shines.

Special mention must also go to Richard Williamson’s lighting design, which transforms the otherwise unchanged set into a supermarket, a nightclub and a vegan cafe over the course of the piece.

A touching and witty exploration of grief and coming of age, (God Save My) Northern Soul clearly marks Natasha Cottriall as one to watch. 

(God Save My) Northern Soul runs at Park Theatre until 20th September, and can also be watched as a double bill with Vermin for a discounted price.

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★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Mark Senior