Review: (God Save My) Northern Soul (Park Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Park Theatre in Finsbury Park usually has two productions running simultaneously in their 90 and 200 spaces, but any trip there at the moment will see a choice of three separate productions, as their smaller space is currently playing host to a double bill. The first show you will see on any given evening is (God Save My) Northern Soul – a dark comedy about love, loss, and Northern Soul music, but would this show have enough soul in itself to get my heart dancing?

Written and performed by Natasha Cottriall, (God Save My) Northern Soul tells the story of 19-year-old Nicole, whose life changes forever following the sudden loss of her mother. The show opens with the line “I lost my mum before I lost my virginity. I’d call that unfair!” setting the tone for what is about to unfold. Plunged into adulthood before she was ready, Nicole attempts to make sense of all that her mum left behind and what she needs to do to move on with her own life, all while dealing with her own grief.

Cottriall’s writing beautifully verbalises Nicole’s inner monologue as she deals with conflicting feelings and a situation she was in no way ready for. With moments of humour effortlessly blending with the heartbreaking tragedy at the soul of the story, the result is a dynamic and captivating hour of theatre that will be relatable to anyone who has had to suffer such a huge loss, or ever worried about how they might cope when that awful day finally arrives. In that respect, (God Save My) Northern Soul is a very real experience, feeling less like a play and watching a real person in conversation with you as they reveal their innermost thoughts in a vulnerable way.

The authenticity extends to Cottriall’s magnetic performance. The only performer on stage, she spends the bulk of the hour as Nicole, but also morphs into the other characters present, including her strait-laced Gran, best friend Sally, and Father Smithe, helping her with the funeral arrangements. Each character showcases Cottriall’s strengths and versatility as a performer, using each differing character for moments of comedy, while never undermining the serious relatability of the story. One aspect that brings each of these varying characters to life is the detail in the description – having already mentioned her grandmother’s pursed lips, when Cottriall purses her lips herself, no words are needed to express that she is now that character.

The writing and performance is matched with Hannah Tyrell-Pinder’s direction, making full use of the intimate space of Park 90 and finding the best ways for Cottriall to connect with the audience, making the story all the more visceral. Alex Marker’s design uses slight and subtle touches, filling the space with an abundance of speakers, hiding essential props that are paramount to the story. Music forms a key part of the story too, with Nicole’s mother’s love of Northern Soul used to further the story, with select songs brilliantly inserted, particularly when ‘Keep On Keepin On’ plays out, resonating not just with the audience but with Nicole herself, and making the whole thing feel all the more poignant.

(God Save My) Northern Soul is a very real story that doesn’t attempt to gloss over the complexities of grief, shining a spotlight on “How to do life” when you are so unprepared. It doesn’t attempt to wrap everything up in a neat bow; instead, it opts to give an insight into the turbulent world Nicole is thrown into in a performance that proves poignant and powerful. Sensitive in its approach, its success is predominantly down to Natasha Cottriall’s strengths both as a writer and a performer. Effortlessly hitting the right notes, this moving play connected to me on a profound level like music for my soul.

(God Save My) Northern Soul plays at Park Theatre until 20^th September. Tickets from https://parktheatre.co.uk/events/god-save-my-northern-soul/

Photos by Mark Senior