REVIEW: I, Daniel Blake at Newcastle Northern Stage

 I, Daniel Blake 

Newcastle Northern Stage 25 May - 10 June  2023

Newcastle Northern Stage 12-16 September 2023

Durham Gala 26-30 September 2023

Photo: Helen Murray

The hugely anticipated play adapted, from the 2016 Palme d’Or and BAFTA award-winning Ken Loach movie, by the star of the movie, Dave Johns, has finally arrived in the intimate surroundings of Stage 2. 

The gritty Newcastle backdrop of the movie has been updated to include the political reactions to the movie. The movie irritated the right and the truth behind it angered the left. The play will continue to highlight the sad fact that in this rich country of ours we have more foodbanks than McDonalds. We have systems that you can pay into your entire working life and then they fail you at your moment of need - just because a decision maker deems that your point score is too low. 

Photo: Pamela Raith

The May run of the play has sold out already but tickets are, at the time of writing, available for September.

This review might get political. Be warned. I make no apology though. The people who should apologise are those who set up the system.

Photo: Pamela Raith

The story involves three groups of people who are trying to survive the situation that is thrust upon them. Daniel Blake has just had a major heart attack and has, as a result, lost his job. His doctor has ordered him not to work until his heart treatment stabilizes him. He has paid his tax his entire working life but finds that he is deemed fit to work after a Work Capability Assessment, by the civil servant assessing his claim, and is denied Employment and Support Allowance. The system overrules his doctor but he cannot appeal until he gets a call off "The Decision Maker."

Photo: Pamela Raith

Just like Dave Johns in the movie - David Nellist has a level of authenticity in his performance. Rather than coming across as someone reciting a script, we have someone that we can invest tie into as a member of the audience. His annoyance with the system is shared by those watching.

Photo: Pamela Raith

Next door to Daniel is China, a lad who tires to be an entrepreneur. His scheme is to use his Zoom contacts to source produce from China and to sell it quickly on the streets. This role sees Kema Sikazwe reprise his role from the movie, though this time he gets to show off his musical talent too. As a lad raised in the west end of Newcastle, Kema helps project that level of authenticity that helps raise the show onto another level. I appreciate a need to keep the number of character down in order to make the show easy to follow but I would have liked a bit more from China.

Photo: Pamela Raith

Photo: Pamela Raith

The final piece of the jigsaw are a mother and daughter who are unable to get suitable accommodation. After rejecting live in a storage container and having to put up with life in a hostel, they accept a two bed flat. The issue here is that the flat is not in London where their support network is, but up in Newcastle. Bryony Corrigan and, making her professional stage debut, Jodie Wild are the pair -  Katie and Daisy - who arrive on the cheap overnight Megabus in a strange city. 

Photo: Pamela Raith

They have a meeting at the job centre to attend before they even reach their new flat but are late as they got off the bus at the wrong stop. Even though they have just landed in a strange town and are still carrying their every world possession, the system continues to fail them as, rather than letting them sign on, they are sanctioned.

Photo: Pamela Raith

Sanctions come up regularly in this show. A phrase that effectively means  that benefits are cut. It can happen for an infringement in the rules. The harsh application of such rules with no leniency, or as Daniel Blake puts it - common sense, means that money due to people is often withheld. The other issue, which was more strongly raised in the film than the play, is the idea that the  welfare state is now digital by default. Want an appointment? Go online. What to appeal? Go online? Want any help? Go online. Daniel Blake is not online. He still writes everything with a pencil. Likewise Katie and Daisy have very limited phone credit. This makes it difficult to access help and support. That's the help ad support that Daniel Blake has spent his life paying for through his taxes until he had a heart attack. 

Photo: Pamela Raith

Photo: Pamela Raith

Photo: Pamela Raith

Completing the cast are ensemble members Janine Leigh and Micky Cochrane. They alternate from being the less than helpful staff in the job centre to the supportive volunteers in the food bank. Many a quick costume change is needed!

Photo: Pamela Raith

I cannot help comparing this with the Ken Loach movie. That film left a massive mark on me. It didn't help that the infamous graffiti scene was outside the studios in which Jowheretogo (our publisher) was based at the time. We still chuckle as we walk past the wall. Many of the memorable moments are still there, though now with monologues from our political leaders that were brought in the House of Commons at the time. Hearing the likes of Cameron, Johnson, May and 30p Lee Anderson helps make the blood boil.  Perhaps the obvious watercooler moment that has been dropped was Blake learning how to use a mouse.

Photo: Pamela Raith

The movie was remarkable in itself. The sad part is that the situation has not improved. (I warned you that I would get political here.) The bunch in charge continue their 13 year-in-charge wrecking spree. Hence there is a place for this play in 2023. 

Photo: Pamela Raith

Photo: Pamela Raith

You have a solid cast in this show. Director Mark Calvert can add this to his long list of Northern Stage triumphs. This is the one show in town that doesn't need a mega-mix in order to get the audience to their feet at the end. The applause was spontaneous, heart-felt and warm. An acknowledgement of a job well done. Hopefully soon, the message from the show will be listened to and acted upon.

Review: Stephen Oliver

Tickets: 

For more information or to book tickets visit https://northernstage.co.uk/whats-on/i-daniel-blake/