The Bank of Dave - musical review

Remarkably inspired by a true story, the Made at Curve production, The Bank of Dave, is nothing short of a spectacular narrative. From the moment that Rob Madge and Pippa Cleary were announced as the writers, and direction from Nikolai Foster, it was apparent that Dave Fishwick's story would be in good hands with this legendary trio.

Bursting into the space with a vibrant bravado and drive to conquer anything the hero of the piece, played by Sam Lupton with such great enthusiasm, audiences are introduced to a man that is determined to change the banking system for the better, starting with his beloved hometown of Burnley. By helping locals to finance their passion projects, Dave's kindness was helping others to thrive. Engaging throughout, we meet a whole host of colourful characters to adopt the Northern charm and see how this bubbly production captures the essence of community spirit and the power of perseverance against all odds.

Packed with humour in every line if you look for it - as noted in the show - there is a wholly uplifting vibe, in spite of the barriers presented when creating a new bank. Often satirically expressed, there is an underlying political discourse too, fuelling comedy but simultaneously presenting some thought-provoking notions regarding the bitter state of the socio-economic divide. With a slight sway towards a focus on two unlikely love interests, it was refreshing to see this pulled back to the true purpose of the performance instead overall.