Theatre Review: Kes by Barry Hines, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

Kes by Barry Hines, Theatre by the Lake

By Ken Powell

It is difficult to do a play where one of the chief characters is a bird without an actual bird. Puppets and animatronics might do it and Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake certain has a history of brilliant puppetry in their productions. But this latest production, co-produced with Bolton’s Octagon Theatre, did away with such an idea, and indeed many of the characters from the original novel and 1969 film version too.

Instead, this three-actor play takes a more cerebral approach, the bird mostly represented by the hauntingly beautiful Nishla Smith, named in the credits only as ‘The Singer’. Using famous songs of the period, she commentates seductively on the depth of the meaning that this bird (the ‘Kes’ of the title) holds for Billy, the young boy who finds and trains her.

Billy, as a boy, is played by Jake Dunn, but the third character – ‘The Man’ brilliantly played by Harry Egan – presents not just most of the other characters but also an ethereal older, grown-up Billy seeking to stop his younger self from making the tragic attachment to his kestrel. It’s a superb idea, not unlike the production of ‘Reasons to Stay Alive’ which uses a similar approach.

Does it work? Mostly. The beginning is a little bewildering, especially if you have little idea of what the story is about. The actors, initially, are wildly chaotic with swift flashbacks and change of characters making everything rather confusing to follow. But once both actors and audience settle into the stride the story is presented powerfully. It is a shame though that you only have a short time to get into this zone;. The whole play is over within an hour making this a whirlwind of experiences and emotions.

There is no doubting that Kes is a bleak tale. It was dark enough back in the late 60s and early 70s. It is still pretty grim even now. For those of us who lived through such times in coal-mining towns with cruel and authoritarian schools, it is still almost too much to bear (for this same reason, I can’t bring myself to watch Billy Elliot again). But that is the beauty of Barry Hines’ classic: its utterly believable. The involvement of the audience who, at one point, become schoolchildren before a terrifying headmaster, is brilliant and the moment will absolutely resonate, I suspect, with a good many (it did with me).

The adaptor, Robert Alan Evans, seems to be asking ‘what happened to Billy after this?’, after the story ends. By presenting the adult version of Billy, we get to find out. It’s not pretty. But then again, this too is so true to life. If you lived Billy’s life then you know how this worked out for so many of those ‘no-hopers’ at school whose destinies were mapped out by class prejudice before they were even born. The bird offers Billy a hope for something different, something better – but it doesn’t come to be. Robert Alan Evans says that the play ‘resonates because not a whole lot has changed.’ I truly hope he’s wrong.

The trio of actors play their parts with dignity and considerable skill producing something intensely powerful. Fans of the novel will not be disappointed, but this is not for the faint hearted. I didn’t know whether to cry for Billy or cry for the bird by the end. All I know is that I came home and hugged my dogs tightly afterwards. It is a bold attempt to present for potentially new audiences a novel which is itself still just as bold as it is bleak over fifty years later. If you like powerful realism, then this is the play for you.

Kes is showing at Theatre by the Lake’s Main House until 30 April 2022. To find out more call the Box Office on 017687 74411 or visit www.theatrebythelake.com.