Disclaimer: We received free tickets to see the show for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
If you were around in the 80’s then you may remember Hanif Kureshi’s Oscar-nominated film “My Beautiful Laundrette” an unlikely love story featuring Omar, a young Pakistani and Johnny, a white skin-head and fascist gang leader. The popular film has now been adapted for the stage and we went to see it last night on the final leg of the tour at The Grand Theatre in Blackpool.
In 1985, Omar was played by Gordon Warnecke and it is great to see he is now part of the stage version – this time playing Omar’s father, Papa. Once a noted journalist he is now a shadow of his former self having turned to alcohol following his wife’s suicide. He asks his brother Nasser (Kammy Darweish) to find work for his son before he goes off to college and before long Omar (Lucca Chadwick-Patel) finds himself working at his uncle’s rundown laundrette. Whilst out with family friend Salim, they are set upon by a fascist gang but when the gang leader Johnny (Sam Mitchell) recognises Omar – his old school friend – he stops the altercation and the pair rekindle their friendship and Omar persuades him to help transform the laundrette into a thriving business.
Set in Margaret Thatcher’s 80’s Britain the ground-breaking film explored violence, racism, homosexuality as well as the friction between the new generation of young British Pakistanis and their parents, who were struggling with the different views on gender equality.
Whilst Nasser reflects the age of prosperity and the Thatcherite reforms, the 80’s was also a decade of violence and unrest and we felt Paddy Daly was brilliant as the racist thug Ghengis, his costume and attitude bringing back memories of news reports of the time.
Despite the gritty subject matter there is plenty of humour in the play with some excellent one liners and double entendres dotted throughout the performance. The whole cast were excellent with all of the actors portraying the characters so well, especially Lucca and Sam who had a great on stage chemistry.
The play had a real 80’s feel, the Pet Shop Boys music and fantastic costumes – especially the sharp pink suit of Salim transporting us straight back to our youth! We really enjoyed the show and were pleased that the stage version hasn’t lost any of the impact of the original film.
The current tour is at its end, with a final performance Blackpool on 6th April so be sure to grab a ticket now before it is too late!
Tickets from £19.50 with concessions and group rates available, plus extra special offers for Grand Theatre 1894 Club Members.
Tickets are also available at £15.50 for 18 to 26-year-olds as part of the national ticket scheme to encourage young adults to experience all forms of live theatre.
To book tickets call the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 290190 or visit www.BlackpoolGrand.co.uk for full listings, bookings and further information.
The Review Studio 