Review: The Weir at the Live Rooms, Chester

I can’t say I’ve ever experienced a visit to the theatre quite like this haunting production of award-winning play The Weir. Once again, Chester’s Against The Grain have pulled it out the bag with this innovative and immersive piece of thought-provoking theatre.

The Live Rooms on City Road in Chester is best known for being a live music venue and it does give this former rock chick a bit of a Buckley Tivoli vibe, harking back to the many visits made to that legendary North Wales music venue during my misspent youth.

I didn’t know quite how this would pan out as a theatrical venue but it worked. Oh, how it worked. Both Against The Grain and Live Rooms have demonstrated how versatile and creative they are here, offering up a welcoming theatrical venue with a difference.

It turned out to be the perfect setting for Against The Grain theatre company’s production of this award-winning haunting play, which was written in 1997 and first staged at London’s Royal Court Theatre.

It’s set in a pub, so why not perform it in a bar, and that’s just what the cast and crew, led by talented director Marian Newman, have done. When you take your seat, beer, glass of vino or soft drink in hand, it feels like you’ve gone out to meet friends in a rather quirky local with a distinctly informal vibe.

Some might call it a gamble to break away from a traditional theatre setting but this was as refreshing as the cooling bottle of ale I enjoyed while seated in the pub. I must have been channeling my inner rock chick once more.

And, rather fittingly for a venue located close to Chester train station, we in the audience were transported miles away to a seemingly idyllic life in the country in Ireland, for a night that began with talk of fairies, ghostly visitors and long gone characters who had once lived in or haunted the village.

The Weir is a shadowy tale delving into the dark corner of human lives, drawing on tales from Irish folklore and the supernatural as its inspiration. It is set in a small pub in a remote part of rural Ireland where, over the course of an evening, locals gather to sit, drink and tell tall tales. The writing can be playful and poetic as Conor McPherson’s captivating tale is brought to life. One such poetic line that really stood out to me was “it was a dark day, like a roof had been pulled over the city”.

As the beer and whisky flows, the arrival of a young stranger, haunted by a secret from her past, turns tales of folklore into something more unsettling. One story, however, is more chilling and real than any of them could have imagined.

The play tells the story of the villagers and the local myths and legends in their tightknit community with typical Irish warmth, wit and a good measure of dark humour.

Mark Newman, who is also a writer and director as well as being a co-founder of Against The Grain, played garage owner Jim to great comic effect, with a touchingly soft side shown later on. He tells a superb tall tale to captivate his fellow drinkers and the audience alike. There was many a hold your breath-type silence as the suspense built over the course of the evening.

He was performing alongside Simon Phillips as the affable and sweet-talking landlord Brendan, with a distinct lack of fine wines – or any wine – on his shelves – and a penchant for enjoying a beverage or six with his clientele. He, along with the rest of the cast, did such a good job of consuming the ‘alcoholic’ drinks that some audience members actually questioned whether they were really enjoying something of a session while performing. Simon is also a much-in demand director and musical director.

Credit here must also go to stage manager and publicist Paul Crofts for going to great lengths to brew those very drinks, alongside the multitude of other work entailed in this demanding role. And while we’re talking crew, credit must also go to sound and lighting guy Steve Lincoln for making this such an atmospheric production, where it truly felt like we were in the wild and windy heart of Ireland as opposed to being beside a busy route to Chester train station.

Back to the actors, and fellow Against The Grain co-founder, writer and actor Stuart Evans brought a certain vulnerability to the role of Jim, his eyes giving him something of an air of a little boy lost amongst his fellow drinkers. Indeed, one of the joys of such intimate and immersive theatre is that special connection you can sometimes only get through feeling close enough to be part of the action.

Playing enigmatic newcomer to the village Valerie is Laura Smith whose multiple acting credits includes various productions with Chester Little Theatre. She brought a powerful and deeply moving depth to the role as her part developed in the second act.

And Dhugal Fulton was the perfect foil to Smith’s wise newcomer, as a bit of a chancer with one eye on the next golden opportunity in his performance as local businessman made good Finbar. Wrexham-based Dhugal has also acted extensively prior to joining Against The Grain for this production.

I believe that some of the props for the production came from legendary Chester hostelry The Albion, which seemed a rather fitting tribute to the popular and historic establishment which was run by Chester legend Mike Mercer until he sadly passed away last year. The iconic pub on Albion Street continues to be a popular place for visitors and residents alike.

Speaking about the play, Marian Newman said: “The Weir has been a joy to direct, the cast and I have learned a lot about Irish folklore and this has brought to life the characters and their lives in this little rural village. Make no mistake, these lovely characters created by McPherson are delightful, interesting and very human and in no way mundane.

“The audience, I hope, will be moved by their stories and relationships and just a little spooked. The Live Rooms venue is ideal for us to create an intimate acting space, where the audience can sit and feel like they’re in the pub, or just sit back in their seats and enjoy the stories.”

The play has proved so popular that it has sold out, with an extra night now added. Speaking about this, Against The Grain co-founder Paul Crofts said: “The original three-night run of the play quickly sold out and we’ve had so many people asking for tickets that we’re pleased to have able to add an extra performance on Saturday 13th August. The cast and crew are certainly all up for it and the feedback from the audience on our opening night has been brilliant.

“The team at The Live Rooms have been superb to work with and we’re delighted to be able to give people another opportunity to see the play.”

Full details of the additional performance of The Weir can be found at www.theliverooms.com where tickets can be booked online.