Well the Bush Theatre is at Latitude folks and in case you missed it then let me tell you something - it came, it saw and it conquered! I had to squeeze my way through the biggest crowd I have seen at the Theatre tent so far this whole weekend just to find a spot where I could see. The sun was shining down and everyone was in great spirits. 

“50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” was written especially for Latitude 2008. Before this years festivities kicked off, festival-goers were asked to anonymously submit their real-life break up stories to the Latitude website. These stories of love and loss inspired the writers to create a show combining characters, stories, skits and songs. At times heartbreakingly sad and at others side-splittingly funny, this production gives all four cast members a chance to shine and shine they do, with all of them putting in stunning high-energy performances.  

Ralf Little nearly brought the tent down with his rousing guitar-led ode to an ex-girlfriend, the tender chorus of “Fuck You Jenny!” ringing out over the audiences heads and into the fields beyond. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Michelle Terry brought impeccable comic timing and an endearing quality to their skits about the couple who have been together a long time and who spend every night side-by-side in bed together winding each other up.
There were terribly sad moments too – it is inevitable when the tales revolve around heartache. Claire Keelan almost made my cry with her powerful and heartbreaking portrayal of a desperate woman, recently abandoned by her love and sitting desperately by the phone. Dishevelled and with her emotional state slowly but surely unravelling, the woman embarks on a series of misguided texts and endless phone calls to her ex- tragically breaking down in despair. It is almost unbearable to watch as we have all been in that familiar place before.

The true brilliant moments though were those where the performers worked together and bounced off each other. The Swingers Party sketch was hilarious and the props and… well… um…  appendages (!) were an inspired choice.

The crowd were in theatrical heaven and the laughter was at its loudest when the songs were performed. Ralf and Kobna rapping and beat boxing, complete with backwards baseball caps, about the girl that played them both was absolutely hilarious. And I challenge you to hear a stranger chorus than the group song “You’re a cow” with the backup lyrics “An actual cow, an actual farmer” very nearly breaking me. When the whole ensemble broke into Justin Timberlake style dancing I nearly lost it altogether.

So far this production has been my highlight of this years Latitude festival.  Forget all those big name music acts. Give me a sunny day and a man shouting about “the harpy slut bitch” that broke his heart and I’m happy.


Lesley Pinder