Oh Well Never Mind Bye

OneWorld UK

By Daniel Nelson

Oh Well Never Mind Bye was said to have been scrawled on a memorial to Jean Charles de Menezes, shot dead in error by London police in July 2005.

Anger at the shooting, and more specifically at much of the media coverage of the killing, drives the play that takes the graffiti as its title.

Writer Steven Lally limits himself to four characters and three computers – ideal for the small Union Theatre beneath the railway arches near Southward station – but provides urgency and force through his sharp, spare dialogue.

In addition, what the play lacks in scale it gains in focus. It could have dissipated its force by dragging in too many easy media targets: instead, it keeps its sights trained on the key failing of 95 per cent of contemporary conventional journalism, which is that it is content to circulate and repackage information provided on a plate rather than dig out truths.

Every journalist should see this play, and most will squirm with embarrassment. Anyone interested in the media should also spend a couple of hours underneath the arches. It’s a play with a point, but it’s also funny and entertaining.

Upstart Theatre, which presents the play, describes itself as a company of emerging actors, writers and directors “dedicated to creating entertaining, politically engaged and vital new theatre work.” Job done.

* Oh Well Never Mind Bye runs until 4 July at the Union Theatre, 204 Union Street, London, SE1 OLX; seats £12. Box Office: 020 7261 9876

* London Theatre News and Reviews

* Guardian review

* Time Out review