Step Behind The Stage
Pretty Vacant
New Theatre, Peterborough - 01/02/25
Review by Daniel Marshall
Saturday night saw Peterborough’s New Theatre transported back to 1976, ready to witness the birth of punk and new wave through Pretty Vacant.
Se7ven Productions’ new show explores the cultural shift towards punk that swept the late ’70s. While music is at its core, Pretty Vacant fully embraces the fashion, attitude, and rebellious mindset of the era, all supported by Ged Graham’s sharp and engaging script.
Defining the genre of the show is tricky. It isn’t quite a musical, yet it carries more narrative than a standard concert. The best way to describe it is as an on-stage documentary, capturing a pivotal moment in time through the power of music.
The show begins with the main band taking the stage: a trio of Adam Evans, Phil Sherlock, and Ric Yarborough. Sherlock’s fluid basslines and Yarborough’s pounding drums set the foundation for punk, but it’s Evans’ thrashing guitar and commanding vocals that ignite the energy from the first note.
The opening song, Anarchy in the UK, immediately hooked the audience. Evans’s raw vocal work perfectly channels Johnny Rotten, and throughout the night he skillfully embodies punk and new-wave icons from Joe Strummer (London’s Calling) to Ian Curtis (Love Will Tear Us Apart). Reece Davies, another featured performer, also shone on the night, delivering radiant energy both at centre stage and alongside the dancers Joshua Fowler and choreographer Louisa Clark.
Completing the main vocal lineup is Lazy Violet, whose second-act performance took the show to another level. Their renditions of new-wave classics, including a haunting tribute to The Stranglers’ No More Heroes, drew both applause and reflection from the audience.
Kevin Kennedy, as narrator, provided context and insight throughout, sharing stories and facts from the era. His presence elevated the show, and he even took lead vocals on several tracks, embodying the punk spirit with infectious passion.
The evening concluded with rapturous renditions of God Save the Queen and 2-4-6-8 Motorway, bookending a night that served as both a celebration and a time machine, transporting the audience back to an era whose messages still resonate today.
Cast on the Night:
Kevin Kennedy - Narrator
Adam Evans - Director of Music & Featured Artist
Reece Davies - Featured Artist
Lazy Violet - Featured Artist
Ric Yarborough - Drummer & Vocalist
Phil Sherlock - Bass & Vocals
Louisa Clark - Choreographer & Featured Dancer
Joshua Fowler - Featured Dancer