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Relaxed in my seat at Theatro Technis, watching Anne and Robert warmly caress under a cloudless blue sky, I was moved almost to tears. It seemed like
only moments ago that I had been shocked to the same seat by a bomb blast, powerful and successful use of light and sound that continued throughout
the production. And in the moments between what a journey we went on, what joy and heartache we experienced.
Set in the aftermath of the 1996 Docklands Bombing, between Leytonstone, Essex and Devon Under the Blue Sky tells the story of six secondary school
teachers. On the day of the bombing, English teacher Nick (played by his namesake Nick Edwards) has invited his "good friend" Helen (Clare Gaba) over
for dinner to discuss his desire to further his career by moving outside of London to work in the private sector in Essex. He is mostly very excited
about the prospect of escaping his unrewarding job in London, "I'm good at crowd control but I actually want to do some teaching", but Helen couldn't
be more devastated by the idea. Hopelessly in love with Nick following one night spent together a few years previously, and following copious
amounts of wine, her lovelorn grief and anxiety at having been violently threatened by one of her students, her own mental health took a turn
for the worse and I feel their jointly prepared chilli may have ended up with a somewhat bitter taste. Real life teacher Nick Edwards was of course
not playing hugely against type in this production but his performance of the ambitious, frustrated and at times quite cruelly honest (or honestly cruel?)
young man was played extremely well. His was a kind of platonic love, which could have been more, but probably wasn't. Clare Gaba makes a wonderful debut
for the Tower, passionate and poised, also doing an excellent job as she completely loses her early grace.
Later, in May 1997, we meet Michelle (Katie Smith) and Graham (Paul Robison), who work at the very same private school in Essex. They tried so
very hard to have a steamy night of passion but all ended somewhat abruptly and awkwardly. Providing light relief to the tense end of the first
act, the conversation turns comical, recalling Michelle's string of hopeless love affairs. Graham's affection for her is unrequited and despite their
shared happy memories of their beloved theatre club, they also really dislike each other, and no amount of playing nurse and soldier role play games
can lighten the mood. Katie Smith gives an delicious performance as a sassy, sexy, confident woman of loose morals, and she softened the tone showing
how much of a lost cause her character was at exactly the right moments. I particularly enjoyed her breathing cigarette smoke across the stage to annoy
asthmatic Graham and invested so much that I felt equal contempt towards her nemesis 'Lorraine'. Paul Robison gives his debut performance with the Tower.
I liked his pathetic, lovelorn Graham, and was even more impressed with his disturbingly sinister turn.
The final scene referred to the play's title, Under the Blue Sky. A gorgeous day in Devon in August 1998. Teachers Anne (Lily Ann Green) and
a severely hung over Robert (Leon Chambers) don't work together anymore but continue to see one another, travelling the world during their school holidays.
They've just had a wonderful time in Mexico, a boozy celebration of A Level results with their sixth formers and in the October half term, Robert
wants to go to Italy. It's just that Anne, significantly Robert's senior, doesn't feel the same. They are of course would-be romantics, but the
age difference and the idea that it could hold Robert back with the things he wants, is too much for her to bear "I'm holding you back. I know I am".
There are hardly superlatives to describe how beautifully drawn their characters' friendship is in this play, written, directed and acted. For me,
the highlight of the show was Lily Ann Green's telling of the story of her Auntie May, a World War One nurse and her soldier childhood sweetheart,
Arthur, a strikingly poignant twist on Michelle and Graham's earlier game. Her performance struck a nerve with me, it reminded me of one of my old
sixth form teachers. As Robert, Leon Chambers had the most touching relationship of the show, his delightful moments of comedy and discreet but
continual affection for Anne making us laugh and cry in equal measure.
Lynn Facey has done an outstanding job with this play. The way she used the versatile space at Theatro Technis was creative and interesting;
I thought she was very brave to have actors chopping vegetables and pouring chopped tomatoes into pans live onstage. Whether they were cooking live or
not I don't know, but it looked like they were. Her overarching vision for the characters, lives and loves of these six teachers was a success and
she had clearly directed several moments of physical intimacy - showing this truthfully is difficult and she rose to the challenge. You come to
realise how the lives of these six characters are intrinsically and tragically linked. I won't give spoilers. But your hairs will stand on end.
Enormous credit must be given to the stage team, managed by Mark Facey working on this production for two major set changes managed quickly
and to perfection. The set by Phillip Ley was very appealing, costumes by Irena Pancer lovely, especially Clare Gaba's cute black polka dot
playsuit and Lily Ann Green's gorgeous blue dress, and the lighting by Nick Insley was well, illuminating throughout. Rob Ellis' 90s soundtrack
brought me right the period, scarily now twenty years ago, and was a lovely listen.
This was an intergenerational, truthful portrayal of love, both romantic and platonic, love that could be, and love that couldn't be. It would
nurse the wounds of any lovesick heart in the audience but was at the same time universally topical. It commented on the teaching, spiced it with
just the right amount of comedy, but never failed to acknowledge the sacrificial, yet life changing nature of the profession, which as a teacher myself,
I feel needs to be onstage more. It feels real. It's just a lovely play, and another great memory for the Tower. Enormously well done to all involved!
Photography by Robert Piwko
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