Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.
The Derngate auditorium is transferred in a concrete playground for a brand new comedy, Top Gs Like Me. Samson Hawkins's play is undeniably sharp and crackles with dry wit before it delves into a darker world of the impact that the internet can have on a teenager.
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| Daniel Rainford as Aidan. Photo by Manuel Harlan |
At the core of the production is an excellent Daniel Rainford as Aidan. Aidan is a little lost as his best mate is about to head off to University, his mum can't get out of bed and his job at Morrison's isn't giving him much fulfilment. Aidan spends his time at the local skatepark in Northampton, where he practices his tricks on his scooter and doom scrolls on social media.
On his algorithm, he discovers 'Hugo Bang' (Danny Hatchard), who promises to turn a teenager like Aidan into the alpha male he is born to be. Aidan goes through a transformation from needy teen to something much darker. He engages in a dodgy side hustle of selling products he's purchasing at work for a profit as well.
It's the relationship with Grace (Emily Coates), whom Aidan meets at the skatepark, that hits the hardest. Initially, his own relunctancy with her flirty nature sees the pair quickly strike up a sexual relationship. It's only a little later that it's revealed that Grace is 14. At this point, Aidan's world completely falls apart.
It's a compelling and relevant tale that reminds audiences of the dangers of what you engage with on the internet and how easily someone can be turned by what they see. The only thing it struggles with is the redemption for Aidan. It's difficult to know what to feel about the character by the end of the performance.
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| The company. Photo by Manuel Harlan. |
Rainford excels as Aidan, particularly in the transformation of the character. Danny Hatchard is a tremendous looming figure, all dressed in red; he is the devil on the shoulder of Aidan, and all those whom he tries to influence. Fanta Barrie is a lovely, warm presence as Mia, Aidan's best friend. David Schaal impresses as Dave, a local down on his luck alcoholic who is paying his dues for his past, whilst trying to steer Aidan in the right direction.
The use of 25 third-year acting students as the internet ensemble is really clever. They add great numbers to the stage as Aidan scrolls through a variety of videos; there are appearances of a variety of characters, including Donald Trump and Peppa Pig.
Jesse Jones' slick direction pairs with the brilliantly inventive use of the Derngate space, which has been transformed with a skatepark in the centre of the stage and the performance played in the round. Rebecca Brower's design is ingenious, which makes the whole theatre become part of the world of the play. It's visually a stunning performance to watch, especially with the set pairing with Rory Beaton's punchy lighting design. The colours flicker and flash as the characters move around the space.
Ultimately, Top Gs Like Me is a vivid, high-energy snapshot of a generation caught between the monotony of the "real world" and the seductive toxicity of the digital one. While the scale of the production occasionally threatens to swallow the intimacy of Aidan’s journey, the play remains a vital, locally-rooted piece of theatre that isn't afraid to get its hands dirty. This show would be perfect for a teenage audience who could do with a timely reminder of the danger of what they may discover online.
This is a solid, powerful production that crackles with potential, and while it doesn’t always hit the thematic heights its ambitious staging suggests, it leaves you with plenty to chew on long after you’ve put your phone away for the night.
Top Gs Like Me runs at Royal and Derngate in Northampton until Saturday, 7th March. For tickets, visit https://royalandderngate.co.uk/
The theatre is running special school performances as well as pay what you can performances on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th February and Tuesday 3rd and Thursday 5th March. See the above link for further details.
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| Danny Hatchard and Daniel Rainford. Photo by Manuel Harlan. |
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