Review: AN EVENING WITH THE LADIES OF THE SUTTON COLDFIELD CLIFF RICHARD FAN CLUB 1995, Old Rep Theatre - Hysteria Festival

It’s 1995, and we join the ladies of the Cliff Richard Fan Club in Karen’s front room in Sutton Coldfield. There’s Anita’s culinary skills to look forward to with the buffet, Sarah’s in charge of merchandise and they all have so many stories of ‘their’ Cliff.

Written by Paul Westwood and directed by Clemmie Reynolds, it instantly feels like we’ve entered fan girl central. If you can’t relate to any of these ladies then you need to get out more! This is certainly something for anyone who has ever been a fan of anyone or anything, whether in your teens or in adulthood, and whether you want to admit it out loud or not!

It’s also so much more than that. It’s a story about how having something to believe in can give you the strength to cope with things that need to change or the situations that we find ourselves having to live with, like losing a parent or escaping an abusive marriage.

Sarah Beckett appears as Barbara, her dry humour and heartfelt regret portrayed perfectly, and Miranda Langley as Sarah, the youngest member introduced to the ‘Peter Pan of Pop’ by her Mum, her nervousness and lack of confidence boosted by the other women and helping her to find her strengths.

It’s a beautifully written and is a perfectly performed production that reminds us what it’s like to be young, whether that’s literal or just in our hearts. To be who we really are with people who will support us and hold our hands when times get tough or be the shoulder we need to cry on. Most importantly it reminds us what it’s like to belong.

Fanatical, feminine fun!

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Hysteria is a women-led theatre and arts festival taking place at The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham until 30 July. Celebrating the power and diversity of female-identifying playwrights, directors, actors, comedians, creatives and designers.