(God Save My) Northern Soul

God save my Northern soul is set in Wigan and tells the story of 19 year old Nicole's attempts to come to terms with the sudden death of her 50 year old Northern Soul loving mother. The songs that have been the soundtrack of her childhood assume a new poignancy for Nicole, as she struggles to process her emotions and feelings of isolation.

A one woman show that she also wrote, Natasha Cottriall gives a stunning performance, and not only as the vulnerable Nicole. With remarkable ease she switches to portraying the people in her life that try to support her, her stoic Grandmother and vivacious pal Sally, as well as numerous strangers she meets in often comical encounters: a deadpan indifferent checkout girl, a potential boyfriend with a passion for car tyre pressure and a possibly alcoholic priest among others. It's a tribute to the writing, acting and direction that we are always able to share Nicole's often bemused reaction to these people, even as they speak.

Despite the subject matter, Northern Soul often has a breezy feel to it, which ties in with the theme of trying to carry on with life and keeping potentially overwhelming feelings at bay. Nicole uses humour (‘’l lost my mother before my virginity, that's not fair’’) as well as music and dance, in an attempt to keep herself grounded. This makes the moments when things nearly do become too much for her all the more moving: turning up a record to drown out the sound of a ringing phone, when she knows it's her estranged father calling, or having to explain to a random caller that her mother is ‘’not at home".

At times there is a beautiful interplay between the action and the songs playing in the background. The Chairman of the Board’s ‘Give me Just a little More Time' as Nicole realises the responsibilities of having to run her mother's sandwich bar, or R Dean Taylor’s ‘There’s a Ghost in My House’, when mention of her mother ruins a romantic encounter. Perhaps most moving of all, as Nicole reflects on her mother's life and possible ascension, Dean Parish’s ‘I’m on my way’ is heard.

Ultimately what makes the play work so well is that it doesn't try to reach any conclusions about grief. It is rather a rich and touching portrait of a young person experiencing what all young people do as they move into adulthood, with the added pain of suddenly being alone.

(God Save My) Northern Soul plays at the Park Theatre Finsbury Park from the 13/9 to the 20/9.