Girl From The North Country is a double Tony and Olivier award-winning musical which has wowed audiences around the country with it's hard hitting, emotional - and exceptionally well performed - story which resonates with so many facets of the community.
Set in 1934 in the heart of America, we meet a group of wayward souls who cross paths in a time-weathered guesthouse. Standing at a turning point in their lives, they realise nothing is what it seems. But as they search for a future, and hide from the past, they find themselves facing unspoken truths about the present.
Featuring a playlist of songs from one of the greatest artists of al time - Bob Dylan - this stops short of being a jukebox musical, instead seeing some of the most recognisable lyrics from one of the best lyricists of all time, punctuating a story so exquisitely created by Connor McPherson.
Make no mistake; Girl From The North Country is no shrinking violet. Dealing with themes of dementia, racism, failed relationships and abuse, we see a number of flawed characters interact with the guesthouse setting, each bringing their own emotional baggage.
Colin Connor and Francis McNamee play a husband and wife, ripped apart by her progressing illness and with him having an affair in front of her eyes. However, whilst it's clear that dementia is taking its toll on her, is she really as oblivious to what's happening around her as he thinks?
McNamee and Connor are outstanding in their respective roles, often reducing the audience to audible silence, with McNamee in particular having moments of clear lucidity which resonate so beautifully with those watching from the auditorium.
Justina Kehinde takes on the role of Marianne - a girl who came into her parents life when they found her hidden in a bag not long after she was born is trying her hardest to not be married off to a much older man. He shows his true colours after he finally accepts rejection, highlighting the clear racial prejudice that was prevalent in the 1930s.
She finds solace with Joshua C Jackson's Joel Scott - a man who was imprisoned, most likely because of his skin colour, and is seemingly the only one who understands her position.
Girl From The North Country is a beautiful, powerful and emotional piece of theatre with a soulful, heartbreaking soundtrack. Chaotic in it's construction, it's simple set and beautifully choreographed performance (with some EXCEPTIONAL harmonies during ensemble numbers) is a life-affirming joy to watch.
Girl From The North Country runs at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 11 February. For more information, or to get your tickets, head to atgtickets.com/birmingham.
