How To Be Brave – Hull Truck Theatre

The Godber Studio was very well-attended on Friday evening, when Hull Truck Theatre hosted How To Be Brave.

Writer Louise Beech cleverly intertwined the lives of the two main characters in this true-life drama – one a Merchant Seaman in the Second World War, the other a 10-year-old girl. And, despite the 64-year gap in their stories, the two had an undeniable connection.

The Able Seaman, Colin Armitage (Jacob Ward), was Beech’s grandfather, and the girl her daughter, Katy.

And it’s her storytelling to young Katy of Armitage’s horrific ordeal during the war that proved to be of huge benefit for her daughter, who had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes; helping her to accept and cope with her condition.

Five very talented performers brought How To Be Brave to life, on the small stage that clearly depicted both sides of the story – one side for Colin’s ordeal and the other for Katy’s.

Katy’s side is her home – soft toys, bean bag, books and dolls, while Colin’s is the life raft he spent 50 days in after his British cargo ship, the Lulworth Hill, was torpedoed by an Italian Navy submarine, in the South Atlantic just after midnight on March 19th, 1943.

The stage setting his side consisted of drapes of material, sides of a life raft, wooden crates and small metal containers containing provisions.

For Colin’s domain we had to use our imaginations somewhat, as he and his chum, carpenter Ken Cooke (Lex Stephenson), caught fish, rationed out the food and water, helped the 12 other survivors on the raft; also helping to bury them when they perished.

Although the two seamen’s name are true, Katy and her mum’s names are changed for this gripping story. Katy becomes Rose (Livy Potter) and Louise, Natalie (Alice Rose Palmer).

The play opens with the spotlight shining on Rose and her mum reacting to the news of Rose’s diabetes diagnosis.

Completing the cast is Alison Shaw as nurse Shelley, an invaluable aid to both mum and daughter.

As Natalie despairs of Rose’s stubbornness to accept the daily injections needed to stabilise her diabetes, Shelley’s well-meaning advice is not always readily accepted by mum or daughter.

However, when storytelling is mentioned as a distraction, and after several failed attempts to keep the 10-year-old from dying of boredom, story-wise, Natalie recounts the true saga of her grandfather’s bravery

This has the desired affect and pretty soon Rose is enduring the finger pricks and injections like a trouper.

As Natalie describes the daily horrors of her grandfather’s time in the life raft, Rose begins to come to terms with her own ordeal, declaring one day “If Grandad Colin can survive an ordeal like that, I can do anything. I can do these injections.” And to this day she has never faltered.

I mentioned there were two main characters in this story, but actually there is a third – Ken Cooke, who survived with Armitage.

It was Cooke who kept a log, written on sailcloth, that accurately described events.

In the fascinating programme there is the actual photograph, taken from the rescue ship HMS Rapid, showing Cooke and Armitage, the only two survivors, on their life raft.

All six actors played their part in keeping us enthralled. Ward and Stephenson as the two survivors, were so believable as they battled hunger, thirst and madness – not forgetting Scarface the shark.

Palmer as Rose’s mum so accurately displayed the angst of dealing with a stubborn child, while Potter’s 10-year-old Rose executed some of the most amusing lines to perfection.

And Shaw’s nurse had just the right amount of authority and compassion.

All voices could be clearly heard and at times you could hear a pin drop in the studio, so mesmerising were events on stage.

The song How To Be Brave, written and performed by Carrie Martin, added to the magic.

Beech’s clever script highlights two types of bravery – her grandfather’s during the Second World War, and her young daughters in the face of a serious illness. Her two stories seamlessly merged to bring us theatregoers a thought-provoking and unforgettable experience.

Running at Hull Truck Theatre until Saturday, November 2nd, 8pm. Visit www.otherlives.org.uk for details of performances at other venues up to November 16th, 2024. Tickets cost £13.50. To book, call (01482) 323638 or visit www.hulltruck.co.uk

Reviewer: Jackie Foottit

Reviewed: 1st November 2024

North West End UK Rating: