Summer & Smoke, the 20th Century play by Tennessee Williams is lovingly bought to the stage by The Company. Set in Mississippi cleverly brings you to the streets of the town, with colour doorways and windows. Simple set, that moves around the stage is used well to create different areas of the town. All set is moved by the cast, during cleverly choreographed walks to mark the passage of time. The cast always turning like the hands of the clock. Besides one minor hiccough with the set this works incredibly well with the cast able to shift the set around nice and easily. One issue with it did result in a show stop which the cast handled incredibly successfully.

The plot, the tale as old as time, young lovers, who shouldn’t be in love, fall in love, can’t be together but try to make it work, but in this case our young lady and gentleman switch roles towards the end, showing that not every love story is a true fairytale.

This is the first time The Rep has worked with such a small cast to give them a true professional experience, and it shows. We got to some the future stars on stage work their craft like professionals that have been doing this for years. The stars of the future really do need to take a bow for their herculean effort, this is more than a play. It’s HUGE, with long monologues in souther American, turn of the century speech. Áine Maher is a force of nature and a true star to see your eyes on. She is superb as Alma, leading the cast with huge speeches, for two nights of shows, she has gone above and beyond to nail this script – agents sign her up now before its too late. Áine is what the young rep is all about, showcasing the future of our amazing talent that we have right here in the Midlands and indeed the UK. Kyron-Ellis Bryan is a superb leading man, tall handsome and holds his own easily against Ms Maher. These two carry the show, but the rest of the cast deserve equal credit, Muti-rolling, costume changing and getting some great cameo lines, that get great laughs from the audience. Huge respect to the scene stealing Kevvauna Welsh who has left me wanting ice cream all day.

Mentions should go to Katie Meekison for her dialect coaching – the accents were obviously really worked on by the team and it showed.

The show was advertised at two hours with an interval, but it was closer to three, it’s a wordy play, and it was beautifully told, so the extra time was needed so points weren’t lost.

The Home & Horizons Festival runs until July 20th, please do check out their schedule as The Company will be back with “Alice” on the 17th & 18th.

If this is the future of actors in the UK, we should be incredibly proud that they are choosing Birmingham to showcase their talents. Proud to be a Brummie! And happier to see the start of huge things for these talented youngsters. Thanks again to The Rep for showcasing the talent.