It beggars perception that, not even in a second of hubris, may creator David Keenan suppose that his 2017 novel This Is Memorial Device would turn into a cult traditional and obtain city legend standing. So cleverly has Keenan sewn the seeds of reality all through the work that a lot of its readership believes that it’s actual.
The story of an Airdrie post-punk band within the early 80s has spawned its personal band merchandise, a social media presence with tens of 1000’s of followers, numerous Spotify playlists and now, a documentary type stage adaptation by Graham Eatough.
The novel incorporates a collection of ‘interviews’ with the good and the nice of the Coatbridge and Airdrie music scene. Eatough’s adaptation stays devoted to its supply. Comprising a tour de power central efficiency by Paul Higgins as one-time native fanzine editor, now native information journalist Ross Raymond with music and brief filmed interviews with followers portrayed by Julie Wilson Nimmo, Sanjeev Kohli, Mary Gapinski and Gabriel Quigley.
It all looks like a fan conference, a fanatical collective getting collectively to share our recollections of the now-legendary band. It feels as if we’ve got discovered our tribe. It’s uncooked and intense, Keenan’s unique work confirmed the fireplace of the younger inhabitants of a secular, working class Lanarkshire city. Harking again to a time now misplaced – a time when blazing originality, ambition, hope, drive and desires would possibly propel you to fame and fortune within the music business. A time when getting a giant break didn’t depend upon a throw-away TV expertise present.
Played out on Anna Orton’s cluttered set, strewn with Raymond’s obsessively collected memorabilia, Higgins fourth wall-breaking efficiency is elegant, completely nuanced, so totally, totally plausible.
As Memorial Device’s music is described – it’s like a clap of thunder, this time on the theatre scene. Every music lover has skilled that one band who modified our lives, who held our obsession, and This is Memorial; Device speaks to all of us who’ve ever felt that. It is sort of evangelical, a bit hippy-trippy – a revival assembly for music addicts.
A robust work and an ideal reflection of a second in time, a spot and a sense that might be fantastic to expertise once more.
Runs till 30 March 2024 | Image: Contributed
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