Children of the Night Review: Party Like It's 1997 in Yorkshire's Vegas
Through the vibrant eyes of two working-class teenagers, a legendary 1990s Doncaster nightclub is spectacularly resurrected in Danielle Phillips' sparky yet quietly perceptive play, Children of the Night. This production at Cast, Doncaster, captures the magnetic allure of a bygone era with both celebration and social commentary.
The Ghost of Karisma Club
If you stroll down Doncaster's Duke Street today, you will find no trace of the old Karisma club, with its distinctive sunburst frontage and famously exhausting staircase. Long since converted into shops and then residential flats, this venue once held an irresistible appeal for a generation of 1990s clubbers. Their thirst for dancefloor escape justified queuing for up to an hour, except for those who had mastered the art of charming their way to the front.
The Coach and Horses pub still stands up the road, alongside a town centre that continues to revel in a hedonistic spirit more commonly associated with holiday hotspots like Magaluf. As Phillips' lively play aptly describes it, this is "Yorkshire's very own Vegas".
Social Forces and Cultural Reflection
The reason for this vibrant nightlife culture lies in Doncaster's proximity to numerous mining villages. Historically, the town has been a gravitational pull for working-class revellers, a tradition that persists long after Margaret Thatcher's assault on the coal industry stripped the area of its economic heart. This underlying social seam runs subtly beneath the surface of Children of the Night.
Inspired by interviews with former Karisma regulars, the play serves as both a joyous celebration of teenage exuberance and a thoughtful reflection on the broader social forces shaping popular culture. Phillips writes in a spirited urban poetry and performs with a brassy confidence, transporting audiences back to 1997—a year when the Tories had been ousted, Robbie Williams released his debut solo LP, and the UK triumphed at Eurovision with Love Shine a Light.
A Night of Dance and Darkness
With an atmosphere of optimism—things can only get better—two best friends, Lindsay and Jen, make their debut at Karisma. Phillips is joined by an equally fizzy Charlotte Brown, as the force of DJ Don's bass amplifies the pleasures of dance, drink, and youthful debauchery. However, the mood darkens in the years that follow, marked by a cluster of HIV cases and the plight of Lindsay's kindly father, played by Gareth Radcliffe, who suffers from cerebral hypoxia as a consequence of his time working in the mines.
Staging and Reception
The pacy staging by Kimberley Sykes for Mad Friday Productions is at its zingiest during the opening scenes. References to local landmarks like Mothercare corner and Biscuit Billy's elicit laughs of recognition from the home crowd. While later scenes may lose some of that initial spark, the production remains a quietly perceptive account of working-class female experience.
Children of the Night is showing at Cast, Doncaster, until 14 February, with a tour continuing until 4 April. This play not only revives the spirit of a iconic nightclub but also offers a poignant glimpse into the cultural and social dynamics of 1990s Yorkshire.
