MIKE Venables is one of those rare breed of artistic heroes – that is an actor who writes and performs their own material solo -not as a stand-up comic (though that in itself is a tough gig) but as a good-old-fashioned storyteller.
His latest show premiered to a sell-out house at The Prince of Wales Pub Theatre in Moseley this week. Entitled ‘What Broke Brum-Leigh’, it is a parable and a parody of gullibility, council cock-ups and skullduggery, inspired by true events in our Second City – allegedly….
He plays four characters – Nye-Eve a Peaky Blinders lookalike trainspotting Brummie who’s as soft as a brush but with a heart of gold and a genius head for figures, Fabian Forsythe Smythe, dastardly villain out to rob the coffers of the Brum-Leigh citizens, Dame Judy – Tench-Foot an ex-beauty queen now charity organiser for abused women and Aliyssa Anglin – an online American investigative journalist.
Over two acts and 90 minutes and with just four hats to tell us who’s who, Venables introduces the players, draws us into the plot and then – come the second act – takes us along at a rip-roaring pace to a happy place conclusion.
With this newest production, Venables has truly upped his game and it has definitely helped him to have some third eye help and direction from Gillian Grace.
The next Birmingham venue of the tour is at The Townhouse, Sutton Coldfield on 13th June 2024 – catch it if you can.