• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

  • News
  • Things to do
  • Radio
  • Community
  • More
    • Food & drink
    • Business
  • About
    • Comments
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
  • Radio
  • WIN
  • Vouchers
  • Listen live »
City of York Council voter ID campaign

Review: Best Foot Forward

Mon 10 Apr 2017 @ 5:31pm - Things to do
Emily Dunn

Photo: Peter Boyd Photography.

A fresh look at an 87-year-old organisation: that’s what Yorkshire-based theatre company Mikron sets out to achieve in their new play Best Foot Forward: a hike through the history of hostelling.

Best Foot Forward by Mikron Theatre

Youth Hostel Association (YHA) York

Tour continues till October

More details

Mikron Theatre is no stranger to writing about inspirational British movements – their other show touring this year focuses on the RNLI – but when playwright Maeve Larkin approached the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) asking to tell their story, she’d not anticipated just how supportive they’d be, as accommodating to the idea as they are in their provision of cheap places to spend the night.

This “pleasing marriage of form and content” has shaped the play, so that it reflects the true ethos of the YHA and the very real challenges the not-for-profit organisation has faced over the years.

York Cycle Campaign
York Cycle Campaign #Ad
For the performance at YHA York, there’s no stage, just a small space cleared at the end of a room crammed with enthralled audience members. Simple white lighting, and hardly any scenery to speak of – unless you count the sun setting over the Ouse behind the large windows.

It’s the perfect setting in which to stage Best Foot Forward, and not only because YHA York is one of many beautiful old houses that have been renovated and turned into hostels.

As a YHA volunteer myself, having painted some of the interior walls at this very hostel, it’s a fitting location for a play that is largely set at a YHA volunteering event.

Family friendly

Photo: Peter Boyd Photography.

Fictional youth hostel Pearling Manor is facing the looming possibility of being sold and turned into a golf club, and there seems to be little the manager and volunteers can do to keep the beautiful historic building accessible to all.

Meanwhile Connie, YHA’s first ever warden, takes us on a journey through the YHA’s past in the hope of securing its future.

We learn about the movement’s roots in Germany before it was established in England and Wales in 1930, then the changes of the Sixties and Eighties, right through to the twenty-first century. All this is seamlessly interwoven with the main storyline.

Seven original songs, and some rhyming dialogue, make the show ideal for families although adults will naturally get more out of it. Best Foot Forward is especially engaging for those familiar with YHA, as it offers a nostalgic view of how things used to be.

Even in my lifetime, I remember making our own beds with sheet sleeping bags, and the term “warden” being used instead of “manager”!

Flawless performances

A multi-talented bunch. Photo: Peter Boyd Photography.

Just four actors (Rose McPhilemy, James McLean, Claire-Marie Seddon and Craig Anderson) portray a variety of larger-than-life yet believable characters, from the lead roles to the farm animals surrounding the hostel.

They flawlessly switch between accents and from dialogue to song, and are also responsible for playing all the musical instruments, yet somehow all this seems effortless and they maintain their energy and enthusiasm throughout.

There’s enough humour to get the audience chuckling every couple of minutes, while fitting subtly into the dialogue rather than trying too hard.

And yet there are serious moments, too. Best Foot Forward is ultimately about the conflict between moving with the times and maintaining traditional values: livelihoods destroyed, buildings holding treasured memories sold off, and cheap simplicity replaced by new generations demanding the provision of WiFi, hot showers, private rooms, and cutlery.

Eye-opening

Rose Mcphilemy as Connie. Photo: Peter Boyd Photography.

It’s clear that the success of YHA today, and its hope for the future, is in its ability to compromise. Hostels these days are more comfortable, catering to much more than long-distance walkers, and there’s no need to do chores (although volunteering can be a great way to earn yourself a free stay!).

But YHA has never lost sight of its original aim: to help all, especially young people of limited means, to experience new places in the countryside, towns and cities.

Accommodation is still affordable, all profits are reinvested into programmes such as Breaks For Kids, and there is a commitment to preserving historic buildings for everyone to enjoy.

You can find out more on YHA’s website.

I recommend Best Foot Forward to anyone with any connection to the YHA. Whether you’ve only stayed in a youth hostel once or have years of hosteling memories, you’re guaranteed a compelling and eye-opening journey.

Best Foot Forward is written by Maeve Larkin and is directed by Mikron Theatre’s Artistic Director Marianne McNamara, designed by Kate Morton, with music composed by Kieran Buckeridge and directed by Rebekah Hughes

Related YorkMix stories

Movie filmed in York and starring David Tennant hits cinemas this weekend

Video and pix: Inside the all-new Jorvik Viking Centre

York Easter guide 2017 – What’s on where for the school holidays

Mon 10 Apr, 2017

Footer

YorkMix
News 01904 848 766
Email YorkMix news »
5-6 King's Court, Shambles, York  YO1 7LD
YorkMix Radio
General enquiries 01904 375 029
Studio/competitions 01904 375 030
Email YorkMix Radio »
Selby Superbowl, Bawtry Road, Selby  YO8 8NA
YorkMix is a trading name of YorkMix Media Ltd
Registered in England
Company number: 07814727
VAT number: 154 0364 34
© York Sound Ltd

Copyright © 2023 YorkMix Media Ltd

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT