[CW: domestic violence, discriminatory language]
Nathan Jonathan brings his one-man Y2K expedition into the depths of toxic masculinity, prejudice and rewriting the ‘rules’ of manhood…
The peaceful start to his life with his wise Windrush grandfather, imparting advice through their shared love of Tom and Jerry cartoons, doesn’t last. Nathan’s violent father means a trip to the women’s shelter, a move to a small Northern town, and a new school that brings racist bullies. Somehow throughout the chaos, Nathan finds friends and even love in the form of ‘Hot Hayley’ the emo girl.
Nathan Jonathan is an effervescent stage presence. He swaps between characters with ease and conjures scenes with minimal props, including the blackboard in Summerhall’s Anatomy Lecture Theatre; it brought back cringey memories seeing ‘BENT’ written on it to describe everything from wearing your rucksack with two straps to not having a girlfriend. Nathan roams among the audience, drawing us further into his world of Playstation sessions, illicit copies of Nuts magazine, park drinking, and the odd fight with his racist school nemesis.
Millennials will love the nostalgia angle too, from Pokemon playground chat to CD Walkmans blaring dance hits and the heady smell of Lynx Africa. I felt a Proustian rush at the ‘nudge’ sound from MSN Messenger, which as Nathan explains is practically flirting with a girl! As to whether he discovers what a real man is, it’s possible his grandfather had a point…
They’re Just Small Town (Northern) Lads is a powerful, compelling hour that upends 00s lad culture with confidence and dynamism.
*****
They’re Just Small Town (Northern) Lads is at Summerhall from 6-16 Aug at 19:15.