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Children’s TV Tiswased
Never Try This At Home
Rep Studio
**** Theatre company
Told by an Idiot
and Birmingham director Paul Hunter give us a hilarious account of the
cultural phenomenon of the Seventies that was Saturday morning
television. In this world premiere of Never Try
The production takes its inspiration from Tiswas,
arguably the most successful children’s television programme of its
time. Audience members who remember the show will be delighted at the
larger-than-life account of the unique world that SHUSHI gives us. It is
easy to be transported to the crazy and psychedelic world this company
have wonderfully created.
The production holds no bars which only makes the
audience become part of the show which contains every element that could
possibly be needed from a Saturday morning show. Unbelievable live music from sublime local bands
The.Future.B (made up of excellent performers from Holyhead school
pupils in Handsworth) and The Heist had our toes tapping right at the
start and instantly transported us into the party atmosphere.
Of course, Saturday morning television would not
be complete without countless pies to throw at people’s faces. Audience
members who are lucky, or perhaps unlucky, enough to sit nearest to the
stage are given plastic coverings, in preparation for the unknown. Most of this play is improvised, reflecting the
energetic spark that fuelled the originality of Tiswas. Because of the
welcoming manner of the show and dry characterisations, one audience
member unfortunately forgot that this was indeed a theatrical
production. Naill Ashdown used superb skills to tackle the
heckler. Ashdown is a television presenter of today, making a
documentary looking back at Shushi titled ‘Looking back Together’. He
spurs the audience on and is quick to make humorous remarks and witty
comments. To keep the spontaneity alive, the actors perform
using their own names, which again allows us to connect with the group
and opens our eyes to the unique talent that each person is able to
give.
Stephen Harper plays the part of the lead
presenter and is the epitome of what society should dislike;
chauvinistic and unbearably rude to everyone, particularly Petra Massey,
who is the only woman in Shushi and the company. Amongst the pie throwing and general craziness,
Harper and Massey provide a fantastic account of the darkness behind
Shushi, which can easily be overlooked. It is clear to see that behind
the neon lights and giant wigs, this company have developed a wonderful
connection with each other. This inner trust from the group only made
the show more fantastically funny. Because each person takes the role of
silliness so seriously, this makes the production all the more
hysterical. Brilliant performances also by Okorie Chukwu and Ged
Simmons. This thoroughly enjoyable show will definitely
put a smile on your face and leave you pining at the many Saturday
mornings spent with the familiar faces that many still hold in their
hearts. Elizabeth Halpin
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This
at Home the audience see the wild and frantic world of ‘SHUSHI’, a
hugely popular children’s Saturday morning television show. 
This show is not just simply a Children’s daytime T.V show put to stage.
It makes strong and poignant observations about the culture of the time,
particularly gender and race which is why this show has an age advisory
of fifteen.