We recently attended the opening night of the sell out production, The Mums, Their Sons & The Knife, at The Hope Street Theatre courtesy of local playwright Bri Mansy. Having already met with the playwright Bri Mansy and having produced a feature article promoting the play, we knew it was going to be a powerful performance, however nothing prepared us for how gripping this show was.
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Knife crime is, of course, a very emotional subject and one that’s sparked a lot of reaction in our city given some of the recent tragic deaths. One such tragedy was that of Sam Cooke and the fact that his mother supported this play and has been given rights to it is testament to its significance.
For more on at The Hope Street Theatre CLICK HERE!
We attended The Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool’s amazing new creative hub, on the Friday night. Knowing it was going to be a hard hitting and very real drama, I braced myself for a highly emotional performance. My friend and fellow attendee, however, preferred the details of the play to remain a secret — so for him the evening’s events were even more striking!
Check out The Mums, Their Sons & The Knife on FACEBOOK!
The atmosphere was electric from the outset, as we were introduced to the parallel lives of two young men — one to be the victim and one to be the perpetrator. The build up was intense as we anticipated the fateful scene where the inevitable crime takes place. We got an in depth insight into the lives of both characters before the violent act took place, making it even more personal to us as the audience.
For more on at The Hope Street Theatre CLICK HERE!
The big knife attack scene in the club and the drama that ensued was powerful, gripping and overwhelming. The reactions from the mothers following the news of the fatal stabbing brought tears to many of the audience — dynamic performances from both actresses that held nothing back and demanded an audience reaction.
Check out The Mums, Their Sons & The Knife on FACEBOOK!
The rest of this very real psychological thriller consisted of the after effects on both mothers and families involved. We also visit the young man who committed the murder in his jail cell, and witness him being haunted by his victim and a young girl who plays Epiphany — a girl who plays the role of the child who would’ve been born if the crime hadn’t happened. This role was played emphatically by young Evie Kaufmann — a very talented star of the future and one to watch!
For more on at The Hope Street Theatre CLICK HERE!
All actors involved must be commended for such powerful and emotional performances. The aim of this play was to shock and tell the graphic truth of such a dark issue in order to raise awareness, and all actors stepped up and fulfilled their roles admirably. The Hope Street Theatre is going from strength to strength with some truly amazing productions from amateur and fringe companies, and this is yet another triumph for this fantastic theatre.
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Playwright Bri Mansy told us: “I did not write this play for theatre or entertainment — I did this to raise awareness and educate people on the harsh realities of this devastating crime. This play is not for the faint hearted but there’s no point tip toeing around such subjects — by exposing the gritty truth it will hopefully raise awareness and if we can change one person’s perspective then we’ve done our job.”
For more on at The Hope Street Theatre CLICK HERE!
It certainly had a profound effect on all who attended, hence the rapturous applause and standing ovation. With knife victim Sam Cooke’s mother now owning the rights to this play, there are even bigger plans for it and if you get a chance to watch it we highly recommend it! Do bring tissues though — you may well find yourself in tears.
The Mums, Their Sons & The Knife / The Hope Street Theatre / 25th & 26th October 2019
Check out The Mums, Their Sons & The Knife on FACEBOOK!
For more on at The Hope Street Theatre CLICK HERE!
