Neil Reidman’s Without showed this weekend at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), poignantly staged on Father’s Day. The play is inspired by the life of Reidman’s own father, and his death when the actor was young. Performed in the intimate setting of MAC’s Hexagon theatre, the one-man production spans various characters, times and places. 

The title is taken from lines of verse spoken by Reidman in the second half of the hour-long play. The poetry shines a light on the impact of a lost, beloved family member, who is deeply influential in spite of their absence.

The play begins with Norman Gosford Reid - a Jamaican father and husband who has booked a ticket on HMS Windrush, torn away from his family for the prospects of a new job and temporary home lined up in West Bromwich with his cousin. Norman, portrayed by Reidman, is immaculately put-together, but nervous; sad to be leaving his wife and child, and full of anticipation at his invitation to England. 

From here, we see snippets of Norman’s life - his sociable manner working in a factory, a flashback to a meeting with his future wife, the birth of his son - peppering the play with context as the man’s personality is rounded out. With effective, minimal costume changes, Reidman effortlessly swaps characters, and occasional voiceovers give the storytelling an extra dimension. 

Eventually, the focus shifts to Norman’s son, Anthony, and the times in his life when his father’s death, when Anthony was aged five, weighs particularly heavily on him. We travel back in time again to see that five-year-old’s experience, and the bittersweet emotion Anthony feels when he himself becomes a father. 

Beneath the surface of the story are hints of bigger, weightier themes - such as the third-degree questioning Norman receives as he boards HMS Windrush - but there is always a lightness of touch to Reidman’s storytelling, bringing out the humanity of the characters he embodies and their situations. 

After all, this is not a generic story - although it will doubtless resonate with many viewers in a multitude of ways - it is a deeply personal offering, a window into one man’s life and legacy. 

For Neil Reidman, returning to Birmingham and the place where the spark of his acting career began, this is a journey of discovery - a commemoration, celebration and exploration of his father’s life. And for the audience, seeing first-hand a talented actor bringing this moving story to life, Without is a real treat. 

Four Stars

Without was reviewed by Jessica Clixby on Sunday 21 June at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC)