Tale of struggle and love relatable for all artists
45 Cents An Hour, written and performed by Dominic Hoey with Rose Northey; directed by Jo Randerson
BATS Theatre, April 8-17
This show explores Dominic Hoey’s experience and thoughts on being an artist. Funding applications, corporate snobbery, the hierarchy of respectability within the arts, and the struggles of working hard and making the titular 45 cents an hour.
It is self-aware, bemoaning getting the funding to write the show but not for putting it on.
Hoey questions when it is time to give it up and laments ‘‘every morning I am a fraud, every night a genius’’. Rapper/performance poet turned novelist/playwright, Hoey is a wordsmith of the highest calibre.
With scatterings of beautiful pearls of wisdom, his solo show is delivered with a rhythmic, poetic style.
He is cleverly backed by the mostly silent Rose Northey, who expresses the thoughts and emotions of his monologues.
Her role could be part of Hoey’s original concept for the show or an addition by (supremely talented) director Jo Randerson. Either way it lifts the show, adding a performance dimension that is needed. That is because Hoey is not a ‘‘performer’’ per se, he ‘‘makes the most of not being able to act’’. But he is very interesting and likeable.
Hoey is interrupted by phone calls from his mum several times, and then delivers the fantastic ‘‘1000 Bullshit Jobs’’ backed by the audience. His obviously beloved rescue pomeranian, Prince Chilli, makes appearances and at one point he sits at a typewriter, creating a new work for that night’s audience.
Hoey loves to create metaphors and there are so many word gems being dropped my notes are full of them. Beautiful fluffy clouds scatter the stage, moved on pulleys by Northey, and they add lovely dimensions and interaction.
This is the perfect first show for BATS new co-production model.
Its aim is to support artist sustainability (especially needed after last year’s lockdowns left artists and venues struggling).
Anyone who has worked in the arts will relate to Hoey’s tale of struggle, frustration, dedication and love. Those not in the arts will gain insight into the challenges of being a creator and trying to flourish.