Spend spend spend
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

IN the 1960s there was no National Lottery or scratch cards or having a punt online. The nearest thing to collective gambling was the football pools. The ritual of predicting which Saturday football matches would end in a score draw was part of the national psyche.
 
In 1961 Keith Nicholson won over £150,000, equivalent to nearly £5 million today by correctly predicting 8 draws. His wife Viv was a tabloid editor’s dream, poor working class yet vivacious and photogenic. Asked what she was going to do with the winnings Viv said “Spend Spend Spend” and they did. Fast cars, houses, fur coats. By the time Keith crashed his jaguar and died, the money had gone. Viv’s life spiralled out of control and the media had a field day.

It isn’t unreasonable to have qualms about a musical depicting the life of a fragile and vulnerable young woman mercilessly exploited by the trash media, but Steve Brown and Justin Greene’s musical takes a fairly balanced view of Viv. Director Josh Seymour’s careful handling of the material presents us with a more rounded, sympathetic character. 

This is mainly down to the excellent performances of the two leads, Rachel Leskovac as the older wiser Viv and Rose Galbraith as young Viv. The two actors are brilliant as they co-narrate a life spiralling out of control until older Viv decides to slam on the brakes. There is great support from Alex James-Hatton as Keith, a man lost in an alien world yet still devoted to his wife.

This is a musical and success depends on the song and dance routines. Both are faultless. The lyrics are cheesy, cheeky and funny while some are extremely tender and real audience pleasers. Lucy Hind leads a terrific six-piece live band which gives perfect dramatic effect to the show.

Many people may say the Nicholsons were feckless. Well, maybe. But much of the responsibility for their tragedy can be laid at the door of the press and an organisation which dumped bundles of cash on them with no support or help. Little has changed in the intervening 60 years. The tabloids are still looking to devour the vulnerable. 

Hopefully more people adopt the Viv Nicholson approach by throwing them two fingers and saying F*** You! Without the tragedy of course.

Runs until January 11 2025. Box office: 0161 833 9833, royalexchange.co.uk