Review: Stitched Up at Lyric theatre tackles serious issues but with a lot of humour

RENOWNED Belfast playwright, Rosemary Jenkinson, has sharpened her pencil and used her own personal experience with the local National Health Service to write c21 Theatre Company’s latest production, ‘Stitched Up’, which will run at the Lyric Theatre until 21 February 2015 before embarking on a tour.

This is an entertaining play with plenty of Belfast’s dark humour. NHS Cuts, Peace walls and Stormont politicians all get a mention.  The characters are very well played and the dialogue is smooth, funny and genuine.

The main character Aidan is an NHS Surgeon, who is suspended after leaving scissors in a patient. His wife, Kate a high profile peace-facilitator,  is meanwhile preoccupied with her campaign to remove the peace walls in Belfast and install a new kitchen.

The play deals with a serious issue regarding the NHS, which I feel was distracted by the “Peace Walls” Northern Irish part of the play. Maybe a bit too much of Belfast and the past was mentioned in the play which limits it’s geographical reach. It is a play about N.Ireland with real “Belfast humour” captured, that makes this performance more of a comedy. All the actors are excellent in their roles.

Stitched Up is in the Lyric Theatre until 21st February before embarking on an NI tour.

Rating 7/10

February

• Wednesday 25 at 8pm: Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry 028 3031 3180
• Thursday 26 at 8pm: Riverside Theatre, Coleraine 028 7012 3123
• Friday 27 at 8pm: Strule Arts Centre, Omagh 028 8224 7831
• Saturday 28 at 8pm: The Playhouse, Derry 028 7126 8027

March

• Tuesday 3 at 8pm: Michelin Club, Ballymena 028 2566 3655
• Thursday 5 at 8pm: Craic Theatre, Coalisland 028 8774 1100
• Friday 6 at 8pm: Market Place Theatre, Armagh 028 3752 1821
• Saturday 7 at 8pm: The Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey 028 9034 0202
• Sunday 8 at 7pm: Cushendall Golf Club, Cushendall 028 2177 1318
• Friday 13 at 8pm: Island Arts Centre, Lisburn 028 9250 9254
• Saturday 14 at 8pm: Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick 028 4461 0747

#StitchedUp: power-hungry peacenik + fallen surgeon = local satire @LyricBelfast http://t.co/68vo0CkUNW @c21Theatre pic.twitter.com/rqJSY4E9PX

— Alan in Belfast (@alaninbelfast) February 19, 2015

http://t.co/0i9azMhcft see @tammy_moore 's review of #StitchedUp @LyricBelfast that I directed. @Neil_Mc_C @c21Theatre @ArtsCouncilNI

— Stephen Kelly (@stevekell41110) February 19, 2015

Not often you get a laugh at the #NHS – but that's what's happening @LyricBelfast – This week with Stitched Up. @c21Theatre 👏 @naked_pr

— Marie-Louise Connolly (@mlchealth) February 19, 2015

#Stitchedup at the @LyricBelfast review http://t.co/2oxBNYFSfW @c21Theatre #rakinyourbacon pic.twitter.com/LbYlKcKCbj

— Belfast Times (@Belfasttimes) February 19, 2015