NODA Show Report by Stuart McCue-Dick (NODA Scotland Regional Representative)
The Herd by Rory Kinnear (son of Roy Kinnear) is a play I wasn’t familiar with but one that I most certainly enjoyed on my visit to Threepenny Theatrical’s latest production.
It’s Andy Griffith’s twenty-first birthday and the pay follows his mother, sister, grandparents, father and sister’s friend over a 2-hour period as they prepare to welcome him from his care home for a birthday party.
Set in his mother’s house in the open plan kitchen and living room there is no interval with the action never taking a break. The set was excellent with props and furnishings appropriate to the setting in 2013. The director made good use of both spaces to allow the actors the room needed to provide a natural flow to the action.
As with all Threepenny Theatrical shows I have been lucky enough to watch this was very much a company piece. Each character having been well developed by the actors to bring out all the subtle nuisances needed in such a piece. Never once did my attention waiver as I waited to finally meet Andy.
It was clear that each actor has spent a considerable time studying their own character as well as the relationship with the others of the play. As a result, this felt a totally natural piece with characters I actually believed in and wanted to find out more about. There were moments of joy and laughter as well as great sadness all linked around Andy – the central character we never actually get to meet. Like all families it was clear there was also a great deal of tension especially when it came to Andy and how to deal with his disability.
I have to say that despite the hard work of the club to encourage ticket sales it was sad to see an almost empty auditorium for the Saturday night performance I attended. This was a production of the highest quality that deserved to have been seen by a much wider audience. I would encourage everyone to grab a ticket for future shows – you will not be disappointed. 
Congratulation to everyone both on and off stage for yet another fabulous play and for the warm welcome when I arrived at the theatre.