Luke Wright is a force of nature – a completely unique talent who defies categorisation. He is undoubtedly one of the best performance poets in the UK with a quick fire delivery of beautifully crafted works that combine poignant storytelling with delicious humour.

Now he is taking his performances into a new dimension, delivering complete dramas in the form, once again, of finely crafted writing delivered bravely and precisely in an epic storytelling style. He is still alone on stage, yet delivers more drama and dialogue than many an accomplished playwright could muster with several in the cast.

Norwich Arts Centre has long supported Luke and his work, and his efforts are reciprocated with sell-out audiences in this highly regarded venue. This show was modestly not billed as a premiere, even though it was, and the third work in a series of plays that look at the drama of young life lived against a British cultural backdrop. His earlier works ‘What I Learned From Johnny Bevan’ and ‘Frankie Vah’ were both rich in politics and firmly placed in the London and Essex area while telling deeply personal stories. The Remains of Logan Dankworth takes the same approach to a very contemporary narrative looking at the divisions in family life mirroring the divisions of Brexit to our country.

Logan Dankworth is a newspaper columnist and social media warrior, famous enough to have his own personal trolls. He shares childcare duties with his partner Megan but as he becomes more successful and in demand she is following her own career opportunities that take her away from his London media playground. The familiar domestic tensions to any parents of young children seem unresolvable, demanding impossible decisions between career and family for both partners.

Luke tells all this in a fast paced but never breathless delivery with superb wit and wordcraft, as befits such a successful poet. He has an unusual ability to hold an audience spellbound, both by the engaging story he tells and the staccato fire of words, very word considered, weighed, dropped on us and just right. If you have ever had the dubious pleasure of speaking in public his performance brings a mixture of respect and disbelief – how can anyone remember such a torrent of eloquence, let alone deliver it with such passion, precision and pathos?

Luke Wright is touring his play The Remains of Logan Dankworth over the next eight months in venues across the country. If our experience at Norwich Arts Centre is anything to go by I recommend booking your tickets now for this moving drama delivered in breathless eloquence. Luke is not just skilled at painting a picture in prose or verse he comes up with some very funny moments that help to relieve the tension of a Brexit-set drama.

© Julian Swainson 2019

 

Listing:

The Remains of Logan Dankworth

Written & Performed by Luke Wright
Directed by Alex Thorpe
Dramaturgy by Sarah Dickenson
Scored by Polly Wright
Lighting Design by Joe Price
Photos by Andrew Florides

Running time: 1h
Age Recommendation: 14+

Co-commissioned by Norwich Arts Centre, National Centre for Writing, Colchester Arts Centre, Freedom Festival
TOURING 2019/20

13th November – Norwich Arts Centre

23rd January – Tom Thumb Theatre, Margate

24th January – Tolmen Centre, Constantine

30th January – The Pound, Corsham

7th February – Bridport Arts Centre

8th February – Jersey Arts Centre

6th March – Edge Arts Centre, Manchester

7th March – Chesterfield Labour Club

13th March – Diss Corn Hall
14th March – Youth Club, Framlingham

25th March – Stahl Theatre, Oundle
19th April – INK Festival, The Cut, Halesworth

15th May – Theatre Shop, Clevedon

4th June – Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
16th July – Lighthouse, Poole

24th July – Acorn Theatre, Penzance

 

Read more: http://www.lukewright.co.uk

Norwich Eye review of Frankie Vah: https://norwicheye.co.uk/whats-on/norwich-eye-reviews-luke-wright-frankie-vah/