The Band Back Together, written and directed by Barney Norris, is a play about a reunion between three former band members, Elle, Ross, and Joe, who reconnect in their 30s for a charity gig in Salisbury.
Once a youthful, carefree trio, they now return to the stage reluctantly, having lived very different lives since their band’s heyday in Wiltshire. The reunion is prompted by a fundraiser for the 2018 Novichok poisonings in Salisbury, where Joe has stayed all his life.
He is the instigator of the event, but his life has become marked by discontent. In contrast, Elle and Ross have moved on, with Elle pursuing a quieter life while Ross has found moderate success as a musician.
The play explores the dynamics of their changed relationships, focusing on awkwardness, nostalgia, and unresolved tension. Despite their personal differences, when they begin to play music together again, the tension dissolves, and they rediscover a fleeting harmony, both in their music and their interactions.
Music is central to the story, acting as a catalyst for brief moments of connection, even as the characters continue to grapple with their individual paths and the impact of their shared past.
★★★★ “This compact production, with three vital performances at its heart, will strike a chord with anyone who left themselves behind in order to grow up.” – The Spy In the Stalls
Read Giles Broadbent’s review on The Spy In The Stalls