New Theatre Oxford has carved out a niche for itself as Oxford’s go-to for big musical theatre productions, but it has also played host to a fair few musical legends. Just this week the incomparable singer songwriter Elvis Costello will be followed by Patti Smith and Ryan Adams, and coming up before Christmas fans will have the opportunity to see Eddi Reader’s Fairground Attraction, Rick Astley, The Pretenders, Paul Weller, Bellowhead, Jamie Cullum, The Stylistics and Midge Ure.
I had the pleasure and privilege of seeing Costello’s set from the newly established Director’s Box which offers a direct gaze to centre stage. The theatre has converted the technical booth from which the lighting team would follow the performance into a swanky, deco-inspired exclusive space complete with dedicated speakers, air-con, a private bar and luxurious seating. Situated upstairs, at the back of Circle, there is a certain thrill to be gained from slipping through a door marked private and finding yourself in this surprisingly spacious enclave, tucked away behind the rows of seats with its unparalleled view. No need to dash out to secure interval drinks, we had everything we wanted on ice, ready and waiting.
Merseyside’s Ian Prowse (of Pele and Amsterdam) took to the stage first, setting the scene for a night of guitar-led introspection and then after a short interval, Costello walked out onto the stage, accompanied by long-time collaborator, Steve Nieve. The extensive set started off with Pills and Soap and meandered through hits old and new with a nod to a cover or two along the way: Presley’s Marie’s The Name (Of His Latest Flame) mashed into Costello’s Green Shirt; and the phenomenal Steve Nieve wielding a melodica to play the ghostly introduction to The Specials’ Ghost Town.
Costello’s voice was equally meandering. Its distinctive strangulated sob never far away as his voice rose and fell, from the whisper of the balladeer to the raucous shout of punk. When he is on point, it feels like there is no other sound so haunting, so poignant. It simply soars across the auditorium as, at times, he stepped away from the mike yet still filled the space. The closing bars of She were delivered from the front of the stage and received a standing ovation from a crowd of dedicated fans delighted to find Costello in a conversational mood, perfectly suited to the relative intimacy of this city centre venue.
To book tickets for future shows, visit the New Theatre Oxford website.
