[Ad-gifted] Fenton Town Hall in Stoke-on-Trent is somewhere I have never been before – possibly because it is the former magistrates court and I don’t get in trouble that often – but seriously, I had never even heard of it. The building is exquisite, situated directly in front of Albert Square and the cenotaph, and alongside the equally beautiful Christ Church in Fenton town. Repurposed as a community venue following a contentious sell-off plan and a sit-in stand-off by locals, it now houses various small businesses, a comfortable café and a ballroom for events such as Bernadette and other Teenage Folk Tales.

Bernadette and other Teenage Folk Tales is a Restoke production written by Florence Espeut-Nickless, enacted by teenagers aged 13–17 from Restoke and co-created by the Power Project Company. Let me unpack that a little: Restoke are a community-focused organisation whose mission is to put Stoke-on-Trent people at the heart of creative adventures. They explore ‘issues and themes relevant to our communities’. The Power Project Company are a team of three creatives working within Restoke. Florence Espeut-Nickless is an award-winning writer and actor from Chippenham, Wiltshire. The teenagers are local school children from Stoke-on-Trent.

The play is divided into three scenes – each a separate story in its own right: Bernadette and other Teenage Folk Tales, The Wooden Queen, and the Swing of Dreams.

Act 1: We start off outside the main curtain and stage, with some of the young actors opening the story while others wait in between the audience to enact their parts. Bernadette is a 90s teenager who feels at odds with the world around her, struggles to connect with people and is ostracised by her peers. Bernadette feels invisible. Her happy place is in the woods near her suburban home. One night she disappears altogether. Suddenly everyone is looking for her – in her absence she becomes a local legend.

Act 2: We head to the 1800s, where six orphans ‘the Smashing Six’ are employed in the workhouse, checking pottery and smashing seconds. The rich (and therefore evil) owner of the workhouse keeps a collection of music boxes, one of which the Six get access to. It features a wooden queen figurine, and she leads them into her wooden world, thereby escaping the workhouse.

Act 3: Marshall, a teenager in the future, lives in an urban jungle. A new theme park is being built, and he has to save the princely sum of £300 to get access to the rides and ‘the Swing of Dreams’. Here he talks to a robot that offers him a great future if he can define what he wants out of life. Marshall does not know what he wants in life yet, and feels the pressure of making decisions that he is incapable of at his young age.

What did we think of Bernadette?

I took my own teenager to see this play – at 15, she was the perfect age to empathise with some of the themes. Not having been to school, she hasn’t experienced aspects of the play that evolve around a classroom setting, but she does understand the ostracising of Bernadette. The young cast were brave, well-composed, funny and hugely talented. They played musical instruments, beautifully; the live music was a brilliant addition. They danced, and the choreography was graceful. The sound and lighting was extremely good – and the woodland setting evocative of a real forest. Although most of the play was performed in everyday clothing, keeping close to theme of teenage lives, we were treated to some glimpses of beautiful costumery – and an actor in a bear suit. Who doesn’t like a bear suit? The audience loved it. The play was a mixture of the everyday and the surreal, woven together by the use of translucent curtains and props.

The audience were asked to move twice during the performance, which was an interesting creative touch… the jury is still out on that. There was also a Trump/Musk joke that was a bit ‘yawn’ (we aren’t short of political ammunition this side of the pond). There was a Ukrainian girl in the cast who recited part of her lines in her native tongue, which was clever use of her skills that added contemporary flavour to the play.
There was no programme available (I think they cited the environmental footprint), but I did buy some beautiful, tarot-card-style souvenirs after the show as keepsakes. Also very striking were a set of portraits of the cast that had been hung at the top of the grand staircase. They captured the essence of the young actors.

Definitely one to go and see, and I hope these talented young people continue their work at Restoke.

Cast

Liv, Kenzie, Rohan, Chrissy, Meg, Nina, Louie, Alisa, Dalton, Linkoln, Sebastian, Poppy and Viktoriia

Creatives

Florence Espeut-Nickless – Script and Play
April Dalton – Set and costume Design
Barry Smith – Production and Lighting
Anna Belyavin – Dance Artist
Daby Obiechefu – Artist and Facilitator
Efa Blosse-Mason – Animator
Connor Elliman – Deputy Company Manager
Nic Winstanley – Creative Researcher
Rebekah Tunnell – Assistant Stage Manager
And many more talented folks…

How much do the tickets cost?

Tickets are priced at £15 with concessions tickets priced at £5 (for teenagers or low-income attendees). The show has a running time of approx. 1 hour and  audience will move during the performance and may be required to stand in parts, but there will always be a seat available if you need one!

Saturday 4pm show will be BSL interpreted.

How do I book tickets to watch Bernadette and Other Teenage Folk Tales?

Tickets are now on sale and available from Restoke or by calling 01782 656272.  Wheelchair spaces include a free companion ticket. Age guidance 12+

How long is the show for and what are the timings?

The show will be running until Sunday, 23 March 2025. The shows will be at 7pm  each evening with a matinee show at 4pm on the Saturday.

Where is Fenton Town Hall (formerly Fenton Magistrates Court)?

Albert Square and the Fenton Cenotaph are laid out in front of the town hall. Inside the building you can find tributes to the memory of those who fell in WW1 and WW2.

Fenton Town Hall
Baker Street, Albert Square, Fenton
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 3AF
01782 656272
info@restoke.org.uk

Tips / Information

Review by : Metia Bethell

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Photo Credit: Restoke