Teenage kicks that ring true

Christmas Is Miles Away: pitch perfect
Maxie Szalwinska|Metro10 April 2012

Chloe Moss's Christmas Is Miles Away is no long, wistful look at adolescence. Instead, this is an emotionally rich drama of endings and beginnings, full of comedy, compassion and casual swearing - the kind of show that's far more likely to turn children on to theatre than any number of school trips to mediocre Shakespeare.

The characters here have a lot of growing up to do. Two Manchester lads, lagerswilling joker Luke and worrier Christie, have always hung out together but that, and everything else in their lives, is about to change.

Christie's father dies, he acquires his first girlfriend and goes to college. The sound of helicopters overhead clues us into what's in store for Luke.

For want of anything better, he becomes a squaddie and he's sent to the first Gulf War.

Playwright Moss and director Sarah Frankcom are wonderfully attentive to the teenagers' similarities and vulnerabilities. Georgia Taylor is pitch-perfect as the girlfriend, who instinctively knows that the boys' friendship is more important to them than they let on.

Judge's Christie makes a convincing transition from hypersensitive type to dope-fogged, baggy-sweatered art student.

And Paul Stocker is marvellous as Luke, who goes blithely into the Army as if it were Butlins, only to breathe death.

Until Mar 25, Bush Theatre, Shepherd's Bush Green W12, Mon to Sat 8pm, Sat mats (from Mar 11) 3pm, £14, £9.50 concs, mats £10, £7 concs. Tel: 020 7610 4224. www.bushtheatre.co.uk Tube: Shepherd's Bush/Goldhawk Road

Christmas Is Miles Away

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