Mojo Mickybo

Bruiser Theatre Company’s Mojo Mickybo by Belfast playwright, Owen McCafferty shows the friendship between two boys growing up in 70’s Belfast – a friendship that at first is immune to the sectarian violence taking place around them, but which is ultimately destroyed by it.

Directed by Bruiser’s Artistic Director, Lisa May, the pace is fast and furious throughout the 55 minutes. Michael Condron and Terence Keeley, flip through multiple roles and imaginary worlds in less than a heartbeat. A glance to the side, a shift in posture and we can see a new character. The choreography of their action is impeccable. They make full use of the simple set of grey boxes which easily conjures them into home, huts, cinema and back yards. We follow them in flashback from nine-year-olds to adulthood with the violence of The Troubles initially obliquely impacting on them until the cruel reality hits.

The play’s message of the pointless division and damage forced on these young men did not move me deeply, but the vitality of the performances is remarkable.

Derek Benfield