Big Big Sky: A Review

On the 27th of November, I walked into the Banham theatre to watch TG Leeds’ production of ‘Big Big Sky’. Upon entry, I noticed the theatre had been decorated with dozens of ornate paper birds ascending along the sides of the seats, a detail that not only acted as a thoughtful prelude to the central plot of the play but also to the care and intentionality of the team behind the production. I had little knowledge of Tom Wells’ Big Big Sky before TG’s rendition, but within minutes of its run time, I felt comfortably immersed in the world. 

Right away, we are placed in an eclectic café set somewhere in Yorkshire, and immediately introduced to one half of our central characters. First, we meet Angie (Played by Imogen Clawson), the motherly, down-to-earth owner of the café, and her employee Lauren (Phoebe Nichols), the tenacious teenager who recently lost her mother. We are shortly joined by Lauren’s father, Dennis (Harrison Mole), a stubborn widower, who is wracked with quiet grief after the death of his late wife. Later, we are introduced to Ed (Liam Gilmore), the charmingly awkward lodger, who functions as a lens into the existing dynamics of the other characters, whilst also driving the plot forward, eventually falling in love with Lauren, concluding in the two of them having a baby together. 

Throughout the play, we bear witness to how grief can affect people in profoundly different ways, whilst also getting to watch how community cushions the effect of loss and change, through the characters’ frequent and honest dialogues, and the excellent chemistry of the cast. Grief is not just explored through the lens of bereavement, though. The type of grief that comes with change and the natural cycles of life is woven into every scene, an undercurrent in Dennis (Harrison Mole)’s delivery. Dennis’ attachment to bird-watching in particular allows him to slowly come to terms with his innate fear of change, with the migration of the birds coinciding with the delivery of Laurens’ baby, a metaphor that was handled with the utmost care by the directors (Ella Lewis, Ben Harris and Indigo Wong). I felt I wanted more time with each different pairing of the four characters, a testament to the chemistry and characterisation of each cast member. I particularly enjoyed Angie’s dynamics with all the characters, as her one-on-one dialogues with them allowed for a moment of insight into their psyches and provided clarity for the audience. Imogen Clawson expertly anchored such scenes with a warm and grounded performance, acting as the beating heart of the play. Phoebe Nichols careful use of space and body language perfectly captured Laurens restlessness and urge for change, Liam Gilmores impeccable timing and choices of intonation allowed for some of the most memorable parts of the performance. The standout, however, was Harrison Moles’ interpretation of Dennis, with every choice he made expertly contributing to an incredibly thoughtful and heart-warming performance of a grieving husband and dad. 

Alongside the performances, the design choices of the production team (Megan Critchley, Daisy Brown and Em O’Riley) allowed for full immersion into the world of the play. The sets’ open plan, make-shift, ‘family-owned’ design concept allowed audiences to feel involved in intimate conversations with characters, and also gave them a greater sense of relatability, which in turn helped us connect with each of their trajectories. The small detail of seasonal flowers and menu changes also acted as a physical reminder to the theme of change that is laced throughout the narrative. The selection of songs chosen to accompany different scenes in the play was a particular standout of the production and direction to me, with songs like ‘Homeward Bound’ by Simon and Garfunkel and ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ by Bob Dylan acting as transitional devices, with sounds that evoke nostalgia and the feeling of impending

emotional transition. 

Both the production team and cast alike have crafted a gentle and honest portrayal of life after loss, sensitively depicting how we must not be swallowed by our grief: we have to walk alongside it.

Big Big Sky played at the Banham Theatre, University of Leeds, from 25th November to 27 November 2025.

Words by Scarlett Coker, she/her