The mysterious world of policing was unpacked last night in an insightful and personal account of a long career in the service, showing just how complex and challenging a role the performer had undertaken.
Whisky Tango Foxtrot! was written and performed by Jack Bryan. He told us about his life, the impact the police force had on him, and the joy and heartache that had come with it. Starting off as a young man, he’d never wanted to be a policeman, but the turbulent employment environment of the 1970s had presented an opportunity which he took. Jack told us about his training, both the positive and woefully lacking parts and his early years as a rookie cop being shown how, and how not, to conduct himself. He then moved on to the years as a more senior policeman, with his views on how the service is changing and moving forward.
Throughout the show, Jack weaved in moments of levity from real situations he’d encountered. We particularly enjoyed the story of the lost parrot at Birmingham Zoo, and the description of the bread sauce incident was vivid. He also didn’t shy away from his most difficult encounters, showing us the impact of the miners’ strike and the riots from a perspective we don’t usually hear. We were left with an understanding of what had brought him all the way from a police station to the stage at Brighton Fringe, and how he might go forward from there.
This show was not a piece of theatre, or a dull presentation about one man’s life. It was a polished piece of storytelling, told by an authentic voice who really cares about the subject matter. The piece made us smile, and stop to think about how we see the police and who they really are. Jack had carefully selected the moments to achieve this, bringing his life together into a show anyone can sit and listen to. Part raconteur and part jovial grandad, Jack gave a commanding performance, never missing a beat.
Performance Dates:
May 23rd – 2.00 pm – Lantern Theatre, Brighton
Tickets are available from Brighton Fringe.
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