Review: John Sandberg's Songs from the Playground at the Union Theatre

John Sandberg's Songs from the Playground
Union Theatre
Reviewed on Sunday 22nd June 2014

Before taking my seat at the Union Theatre to watch Songs from the Playground I realised it had been a very long time since I last saw a similar kind of showcase performance. As an avid supporter of new writing I only felt more ashamed as the evening unfolded and I was introduced to the incredible talents of John Sandberg.

Sandberg's writing is incredibly refreshing as it is so observational. Whether he is writing about his journey to work or the time he spent living on the streets, truth and sincerity are always present. The cast, made up of new and exciting talent, gave their all and delivered both hysterically funny and moving performances.

Songs from the Playground comprised songs from Sandberg's various musicals. I adored his comical numbers and found his more poignant pieces particularly powerful. Song after song was performed during the first half so I wasn't always sure of the context; however, Sandberg spoke to the audience during act two introducing the pieces and discussing their influences.

The section performed from The Homefront, a musical Sandberg wrote inspired from the time he spent living on the streets, was incredibly thought provoking. The uncomfortable nature of the situation was reflected perfectly within the melody and I was left keen to see more. 

The final number of the evening came from a show Sandberg is collaborating on with Dan Looney, a musical adaptation of Home Alone. Although I didn't love the number (the tap dance break didn't seem to flow), the concept behind the musical is incredible - it could easily become the new Matilda! If Sandberg and Looney are able to write a clever score which tells the story through Kevin's eyes the piece could be extremely exciting with enormous commercial potential.

Following several mediocre evenings at the theatre, Songs from the Playground hit me like a breath of fresh air. The evening totally inspired me and restored my faith in theatre. It is so important that theatregoers support these types of events, for me there is nothing more exciting than seeing new writing in its earliest forms. I am certainly looking forward to seeing what the future holds for John Sandberg!

Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)

Photo Credit: Gabriel Mokake Photography

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