Top G's Like Me - Derngate Theatre, Northampton
- 6 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Top G’s Like Me is currently playing in Dernage theatre and I can’t recommend this highly enough. Firstly, it’s the Derngate like you have never seen it before. It’s been turned into a skate park. The stage is in the middle of the auditorium with seats all around and a half pipe at its centre There is a park bench, an overfull rubbish bin and even the detail the floor has squares of fake grass. It doesn’t end there. The pillars in the foyer are graffitied. I have never seen the Derngate quite like this. But the show. Do come and see this fantastic piece. This play is relevant, current and has a deep moral message.
Aidan’s lost. His best mate’s starting uni, his mum can’t get out of bed, and his new side hustle has questionable legality. Meanwhile, he’s stacking shelves at the supermarket wondering if this is all he’s cut out for. He’s got hobbies – hanging out at the skatepark and doom scrolling his days away. As he’s lapping up the algorithm ‘Hugo Bang’ appears with the promise to help Aidan become the alpha he was born to be. Will Hugo Bang help Aidan get his life back on track, or will he lead Aidan to a darker, more dangerous place?
Aiden is played by Daniel Rainford. Daniel plays Aiden perfectly and I think a lot of young people would relate to his character. He feels he is not an achiever. He cannot compete with all those successful influencers online. He can’t even do the trick with his scooter he has been practicing all summer. He is sad and now his best friend is planning to go off to uni without him. Daniel delivers so that we have empathy for Aiden even when his life begins to spiral out of control.
Mia is his best friend and they grew up together. Fanta Barrie plays Mia and she is much more confident and knows where her life is going. She tries to encourage Aiden to be more positive but that’s a difficult task. Her new boyfriend is a bit posh and geeky (at least for Northampton!) but she is going up in the world. Fanta is fantastic in the role and very watchable. You instantly like her character although I was never convinced about her relationship with her boyfriend, I think she has a soft spot for Aiden.
Hugo Bang is one of the influencers that Aiden watches a lot. Danny Hatchard plays Hugo Bang and it’s a difficult role to play but Danny knocks it out of the park. Hugo is the worst of male toxicity and is a huge influencer to young people like Aiden. Hugo feels women are second class citizens and only there for him to use. He cares about money and being a ‘Top G’. Every time he comes onto the stage you feel his presence. He wears a red suit and I think that is intentional. Is he devil himself? It is certainly red for danger if nothing else.
I loved that the internet ensemble are played by a community chorus made up of 25 third year acting students from the University of Northampton. Some real talent on that stage. The stars of the future.
Directed by Jesse Jones, this brand-new play by local playwright Samson Hawkins crackles with dry humour and a modern-day wit but also gives a moral message about the dangers of doom scrolling. For me that part of the play was so impactful. Seeing all the rubbish we scroll past brought to life on stage. There is Zelda, The Queen rapping, An Army advert, dancing shorts and of course Hugo Bang. This show may be aimed at the young but honestly, we all doom scroll so it’s a warning to all of us. There are laugh out loud funny moments in the show too. This play has gone straight into my top five of best plays I have ever seen and urge you to put your phone down and go to see it.
Top Gs Like Me was developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme and was originally seed funded and developed through Royal & Derngate’s Generate artist development programme, in partnership with Andy Routledge. The production is part of the theatre’s Made in Northampton season, which is sponsored locally by Michael Jones Jeweller.
Top Gs Like Me runs in Derngate auditorium from Monday 23 February to Saturday 7 March. Tickets can be booked by calling Box Office on 01604 624811 or online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk/top-gs-like-me. The production is recommended for ages 14 and upwards.
