Review: EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE RONALDO, Birmingham Rep
Photo credit: Kris Askey
Growing up, many children consider a career as a footballer, though for most, it remains a dream. With promises of fame, fortune, and the prospect of playing in front of millions each week, the modern-day footballing lifestyle holds a strong allure. Everybody Wants To Be Ronaldo is a reimagining of the OFFIE-nominated show, Hand Of God.
Curtis, sixteen and an aspiring footballer, is currently playing at the Aston Villa academy. This TECTUM theatre production explores Curtis’s disappointment at not securing a professional contract and the effect that this has on his and his mum, Sabrina’s, life. With tensions rising between the pair, Curtis has a surreal encounter with Diego Maradona, who enlightens him on football, family, and life.
The piece is written and produced by Sam Butters, who, this time around, is not starring in the play. With the story being unapologetically Brummie, The Rep in Birmingham is the perfect venue for this three-hander. Whilst the show has some comical moments, the script could be further developed, especially by expanding on the character development of both Curtis and Sabrina. The piece also lingers too long in each scene, with dialogue that could be tightened to advance the story more quickly.
The piece opens with a repetitive monologue from Curtis, dreaming of winning the Ballon d'Or. He returns to reality, confident and self-assured in his talents. He is then thrown into immediate doubt when one of his friends fails to secure a professional football contract. Curtis's sudden insecurity intensifies when he, too, predictably fails to land the contract he was certain was his only moments before. This abrupt shift feels jarring and disrupts the flow of the show's promising opening.
Jerome Scott delivers a solid performance as lead character Curtis. Scott’s character is somewhat one-note due to limitations in the writing, but he does his best to bring sincerity and depth to the role. When Curtis doesn’t get his contract, instead of being distraught over the loss of his dream to play for his beloved team, he seems surprisingly at ease, which feels unrealistic given the significance of the moment. This vital moment lacks the believability that is the foundation of the story.
Kimisha Lewis, as Curtis’s mum Sabrina, doesn’t fare as strongly, with a nervous, static, almost reserved performance that requires a greater emotional connection to her son. The writing doesn't clarify or explore whether she's allowing her son to pursue his dream because it's his choice, or if she's encouraging him to do so because it reflects the life she hopes to live through him. Lewis did, however, come into her own in the final moments of the piece, tapping into the emotion that was needed throughout.
Whilst the other characters require more depth, the character of Maradona is fully realised and the star of the show. Whilst the show is titled Everybody Wants to Be Ronaldo, it is Maradona who takes centre stage as the legend of Curtis’s dreams, with Ronaldo barely mentioned—an approach that feels both confusing and unnecessary.
Tobias Jowett portrays Maradona like you’ve never seen him before. This eccentric character, with amazing hair and a flamenco flair, is the undoubted highlight of the piece. Visiting Curtis whilst in an unconscious state, he injects the exuberant energy the show was lacking. Jowett’s movement and comic timing are near-perfect and bring a natural warmth to the character.
Charlie Powell's lighting design is effective for the most part, utilising stadium-like lighting to great effect. However, there is a sequence of coloured strobe lights that became uncomfortable to view, lasting far longer than necessary. Audience members could be seen turning away, clearly affected by the discomfort caused. Musical composer Reisz Amos has developed impressive, unique raps to accompany the story, seamlessly blending grime and hip-hop elements to enhance the narrative. Both Scott and Jowett perform these with impressive flow and sharp delivery. The production should lean into these even further, as they add dynamism and elevate the performance.
Everybody Wants to Be Ronaldo focuses on the dedication and dreams of Curtis but struggles to capture the imagination of the young audience it aims to inspire. Whilst there are important themes throughout, such as mental health, these also lack depth and resonance. The pacing feels uneven at times, and the writing could be refined to better support the story. There is potential here, but the production needs extra time to score with this audience. With further refinements, it could well be a winning performance.
** Two stars
Reviewed by: Jordan Potts
Everybody Wants To Be Ronaldo plays at Birmingham Rep until 22 March, with further info here.