If you’ve ever loved something so deeply it becomes part of your identity – a sports team or a band – then Gerry & Sewell will likely resonate with you. And if you haven’t? Honestly, don’t worry. You don’t need to be an avid football fan to enjoy this show.
Playing a short 2-week run at the Aldwych Theatre, Gerry & Sewell has arrived in the West End trailing that unmistakable energy of a local hit. The theatre bar was buzzing with Geordie accents, and the audience felt fiercely loyal from the moment the lights went down, getting actively involved waving the black and white flags that had been scattered amongst the seats.
The story centres on Gerry and Sewell, two friends from the North East who are chasing a Newcastle United season ticket. It’s the kind of premise that sounds niche until you realise it’s not really about football, but about the things we cling to when life feels stacked against us. The show uses football as its framing device, but underneath it is a tale of friendship, resilience and pride.
And it’s really funny. The humour can be a bit crass in places, but Jack Robertson portrayed Sewell in such an endearing way that he pulled it off. Some of the one-liners made me laugh out loud; his delivery was superb.
Sewell’s character also pierced the veil with some local humour about Paddington and the Tina musical, which is the longest running show at the Aldwych Theatre.
The show is happy to be a bit daft and loud, but it also isn’t afraid to point out the harder edges of the world these characters inhabit. There’s social commentary threaded throughout, and it’s one of the reasons this play has teeth. It isn’t a glossy West End take on working-class life; it feels lived-in. The laughter is real, but so is the desperation underneath it.
Another major plus – you genuinely don’t need to like football, or even know anything about it, to enjoy this. Aside from the odd reference to the former manager and club legend Kevin Keegan, there aren’t any niche football jokes that will go over your head.
My biggest frustration was that my seat in row R of the stalls had a restricted view, and the top portion of the stage was blocked. Sadly it did slightly lessen the impact of a few scenes as I was unable to see much beyond the actors feet if they were on the top level on the stage.
There was also a strange dance sequence midway through Act 1, set in a scrapyard after Gerry and Sewell tried to sell an old toilet they’d pulled out of the river. It felt oddly placed and didn’t work for me at all.
But a few rough edges aside, Gerry & Sewell is an enjoyable night at the theatre – funny, warm and proudly regional. Howay the lads.