Where Do Little Birds Go? - Lauriston Studio

THE streets of London are paved with gold, so the old saying goes.

But the reality of course, is very different as the naive teen Lucy Fuller, seduced by its big, bright lights, find out to her cost in this play, inspired by a true story.

Poor Lucy is forced to grow up fast as she’s sucked into the seedy world of the nightclub hostess in the capital during the swinging 60’s and finds herself imprisoned in a flat with the sort of bloke most women wouldn’t dream of bringing home to mother.

We really feel for her, kidnapped by two of the country’s most notorious gangsters, the Kray Twins because it’s all a far cry from her ultimate ambition of being a West End singing star.

Laura Elizabeth gives a quietly moving performance as Lucy, telling a sad and bleak story with real honesty and authenticity. We learn in the play she’s escaped from a home equally as hellish - her dad’s favourite Christmas game being to beat up her mother after returning blotto from the pub.

Laura ensures we care deeply about her character while keeping a tight rein on the histrionics. Director Ed Green certainly deserves credit for this and I would certainly like to see more of Urban Trendz work. For this 70 minute one woman show certainly held my attention in the sort of grip Ronnie and Reggie would have been proud of.

Trendz specialise in “fresh, innovative innovative writing to the stage” in a minimalist setting and Where Do Little Birds Go? works wonderfully well in the fabulous little Lauriston. Then there’s the evocative writing of course, so effective in bringing to life a world most of us will never inhabit. Thank goodness.

Until November 17. The box office is on 0161 928 1677. Star rating - ***