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Jonathan’s not your usual teenage drop-out.
This is not your usual teenage rebellion…
Jonathan’s 18. Bright boy. Great future. People expect things… Especially now that his Dad’s walked out, his Mum’s got her career, and Danny needs looking after. Danny – his brother with Down’s syndrome and a love of creative swearing. But his best friend needs him too. It’s hard work burgling houses all on your own…
A lot can happen in a year. Especially when it’s the most important year of your life. FLIGHT PATH is a funny, touching and unflinching portrait of brotherly love.
Director: Naomi Jones | Designer: Polly Sullivan
Lighting: Natasha Chivers | Sound: Carolyn Downing
“A triumph of humour and heartbreak that is often powerfully affecting too… the ending, with its beautiful mixture of love, hope and residual sadness, is superbly achieved. Cary Crankson is both sympathetic and charismatic as Jonathan, while Scott Swadkins makes a remarkable professional debut… I have a strong hunch that we will be hearing a good deal more of Watson, a writer of rare human sympathy, and of Crankson, who plays the troubled hero with real star quality”
Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph
“David Watson is a remarkable writer – he writes with searing accuracy and without any shrill moralising… Naomi Jones’s direction draws performances from the actors that seem casual but are expertly observed”
John Peter, Sunday Times
“In this lively and compassionate play, Watson has an especially sharp ear for the black lingo adopted by Jonathan and his friends, and for the painfully funny conversations between teenagers and their parents ”
Jane Edwardes, Time Out
“Quirky humour and a sharp eye for inter-generational awkwardness. Watson also writes perceptively about fraternal love-hate. The scenes between Jonathan and his demanding brother are superbly played by Cary Crankson and Scott Swadkins… Watson has a bright future”
Michael Billington, Guardian
“Watson writes with compassion, wit and a keen ear for London patois… his main characters are vividly drawn and brought to life in Naomi Jones’s first-rate production. Scott Swadkins is impressive as Daniel, Jason Maza exudes nervy aggression as Joe, Ashley Madekwe is sweetly wise as the girlfriend and Cary Crankson is excellent as Jonathan.”
Sarah Hemming, Financial Times
“A fresh, authentic-sounding play about friendship and brotherly love…The integration of a likeable disabled actor, Scott Swadkins, into a production of this quality – Naomi Jones’ direction is light and sensitive – is in itself an important statement… the manner in which the play shakes out, both in the writing and in Polly Sullivan’s neatly constructed design, is not the least of the short play’s pleasures”
Michael Coveney, Whatsonstage.com
“Scott Swadkins is magnificent… comical, touching and dignified”
Quentin Letts, Daily Mail
“David Watson offers a bittersweet look at how too many pressures on young people can only lead to them rebelling… sharp, well captured dialogue and sensitive performances – Ashley Madekwe has a wonderful naturalness and Scott Swadkins is excellent”
Siobhan Murphy, Metro