Everybody Wants to Be Ronaldo, Tectum Theatre Review
Written by Clare for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Midlands-based theatre company Tectum Theatre has brought Everybody Wants to be Ronaldo, a reimagining of their OFFIE-nominated show Hand of God, to the Rep for a brief run at the Birmingham Rep this spring.
The play, set in the city, follows the central character of Curtis. This 16-year-old inspiring professional footballer after not receiving a professional contract for his beloved Aston Villa’s academy and tensions that build up between him and his devoted mother takes his own life, only to be greeted by the Hand of God himself, Maradona in a quite unexpected and unforgettable encounter. Written by Sam Butters and directed by Nyasha Gudo (part of the creative team behind Tectum) this play was unexpected, with careful consideration around the discussion of suicide and mental health. The free programme given on entry gives information on a nationwide peer to peer group ANDYSMANCLUB.
Although there are aspects of football talk throughout the hour and fifteen minute play, the show also is about mental health, rediscovering the joy in everyday life and finding your own identity even when you feel it is lost. It features bold storytelling and will leave you thinking. Alongside the dialogue, rap and grime music is used which has been composed by Reisz Amos and is performed by the three actors, although due to sound levels some lyrics were lost slightly in the mix between actor and music.
Jerome Scott plays Curtis, goes through many different chapters of his own grief, from the loss of what he thought was his big break, the arguments with his beloved mother (played by Kimisha Lewis) to going through the motions into the afterlife with the “help” of one of the footballing icons of the world. Maradona played by Tobias Jowett was one of my highlights of the evening, the character was slightly egotistic, high octane, humorous at times but by the end you almost saw a more caring and helpful side to aid Curtis through a big transition. The final moments of the play were hard to watch as Kimisha’s character went through the grief of discovering Curtis in his bedroom, with him looking on from afar before a blackout, it was sudden and felt final.
With discussion of suicide, drug use and strong language, this is a powerful show with an age guidance of 14+. The lighting design by Charlie Powell does include some flashing lights that were quite intense and it would have been helpful to have prior warning of this prior to entrance into the theatre space, either in the theatre or on the website.
Everybody Wants to be Ronaldo plays for three performances at The Rep, Birmingham between 21st and 22nd March 2025.
★ ★ ★ ★
