Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste of Honey is arguably the mother of all kitchen sink dramas. The 1958 hit was followed by productions on the West End and in New York, as well as a film adaptation, and all within three years of the 19 year old writing the then taboo play. The fact that director Mark Baybach wanted to focus on the real Northern voices at play, rather than the shock value, was a wise choice. Special recognition should also go to set designer Hayley Grindle: the wonderfully sparse bedsit, alongside the imposing industrial metal structures and junk-strewn alleyways, really reflected upon the northern dives present in the 50s and 60s. These are the areas of 50s Britain that are so often overlooked, and this production seeks them out in the interrogative glare of the stage lights.
