No Love Songs

Stress Ball

No Love Songs

by Kyle Falconer, book by Laura Wilde and Johnny McKnight

Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre at the Southwark Playhouse, Elephant and Castle, until 15^th June

Review by Heather Moulson

After a successful run at The Traverse Theatre at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe, No Love Songs arrives in London, fresh from its home in Dundee Rep.

On this my first visit to this second venue at Elephant of the Southwark Playhouse, I encounter an open and simple stage.  It is impressive how the cast of two walk in naturally like normal punters.  But this a gig theatre show.  The musical director, Gavin Whitworth fits in sympathetically at his keyboard between the two performers.  Directed with sensitivity by Dundee Rep’s Artistic Director, Andrew Panton, and Tashi Gore, No Love Songs is the creation of Kyle Falconer, the lead singer-songwriter of the Scottish indie band, The View and his partner Laura Wilde.

Anna Russell-Martin, who plays Lana, has a powerful voice and is highly watchable.  McLarnon’s Jessie is a great match and the story starts with ease and song.  Stressball quickly becomes a personal favourite number as the pair lock eyes on a dance floor.   With wry humour, they eventually become life partners, singing the marvellous Wait Around.

In an hour and a quarter, they impressively cover so many human situations such as (brief) romance, childbirth, isolation, breakdowns, separation and reunion, told in well-written and poignant songs by Kyle Falconer, and very effective lighting.   The song Laura is genuinely tender. 

The strong cast portray a spiral quickly towards the brutality of childbirth and the reality of bringing a new life into the world.  In spite of the pain of breastfeeding and the loneliness of a tower block flat, Jessie is not inhibited in breaking it to the new mother that he has been offered an American tour.  Although with the sincere intention of making money for his family, there is an underlying self-deception that Jessie wants to move on in his musical career.  Although Lana is bitterly agreeable, the heartbreaking songs Mother and On My Own touch a chord in all of us.  Lana is left in the lurch.

Despite brave attempts at ludicrous yoga classes, the loneliness becomes too much for Lana and we witness uncomfortable viewing of the new mother’s spiral downhill.  However, Jessie, on return from his triumphant tour, rescues his partner and the baby, and when Lana recovers in rehab, the What If accusations came to light, a nightmare familiar to every parent.  The songs Rake It In and Don’t Call Me Baby are relevant in this aftermath and are very moving. 

Superb lighting designed by Grant Anderson and effective sound designed by Ritchie Young enhance the changing emotions highlighted in No Love Songs.   The pain of separation followed by healing is skilfully crafted.  Do take the opportunity to see it.

Heather Moulson, June 2024

Photography by Tommy Ga-Ken Wan