THEATRE

Written and performed by Chris Goode, this is the story of a skinny fourteen year old boy named Shirley – not a helpful name for a boy at the average school. Shirley has certain things on his mind – some he hates to think of. One of these is another fourteen year old boy at school who he feels is sadly wholly unattainable. But he has the night sky on his ceiling, and that gives him a lift every morning.

One morning he wakes early and hears a strange clunking noise outside. This is his introduction to Wound Man, who is a kind of 16^th century medical diagram, with weapons sticking out at all angles. This strange creature proves to be a very different kind of superhero, and extremely useful.

This is a completely delightful and engaging – and really moving – one-man show. It really is necessary to capture and charm the audience in about the first twenty seconds for this to work, and Chris Goode does that brilliantly. Repeatedly I was aware of how much the audience were with him, and who can blame them. As he took us into this problem-ridden but magical world I was fascinated, and he could have gone on longer happily – but the piece is very well-structured, and takes us just far enough for just long enough. The audience will be well able to fill in things that are only hinted at.

This is a warm and gentle show that conveys valuable insights and makes us question assumptions.

There is humour and there is heartache, and you leave feeling that you have spent time in the company of a wise man who has strengthened your zest for living.