One of the many high rise estates in Byker
Originally published by L.S. Media. May 20th 2012.L.S. Media Rating ***
Cast: Gina McKee, Aimee Kelly, Margaret Jackman, Kevin Watham.
The latest in the series of one-off plays shown by the Sky Arts channel dealt with the bleak and socially topical subject of care within the community.
Titled Care, the half hour drama starred Gina McKee as a district nurse charged with looking after Elsie, a long term diabetic, in the long-neglected and infamous Byker Estate in Newcastle. Like other productions within this series, it dealt very heavily with the idea of what goes on in the mind, although in this particular case it was how the mind could be seen to deal when something inside finally snaps.
Gina McKee’s character of Natalie certainly seemed to be suffering, the monotony of life, the constant repetition of her life of dealing with a husband who works away from home and driving to the estate and tower blocks to look after her charges begins to tell on her and psyche. Homebound Elsie admits during one Natalie’s nightly visits to administer the vital insulin that she wants to die, however she wants Natalie to help her achieve her final goal. The stark reality of her situation is mirrored by the starkness of both women’s lives. The loneliness is punctuated by sleep, constant television and in Elsie’s case, the ever increasing rows that emanate from the next door flat.
Although the scenes are shot with great dedication to give the complete idea of unwanted solitude and the bleached out-look gives the play a certain gravitas it also exposes the great lie of the 1960’s social planning where it was considered the best possible solution to post war Britain’s housing problems to put everyone into these blighted high rise estates.
The sense of community within the play is noted by having the young girl next door who is on the receiving end of domestic abuse being made to look older than her years in a similar way that Natalie looks when she finally snaps and takes a life.
These three women, all at a certain stage of their lives are perfect allegories for how the looming tower blocks have undergone an aging treatment. Brand new in the 60’s, full of hope, by the time they have been around for 25 years the decline had started but as in life neglect starts to seep in. By the end they need to be pulled down and social reality must be heeded and the old and forgotten members of society need to be rehoused in homes that are more that fit for the purpose, they need to have respect re-installed into them.
A gritty piece of social commentary that goes slightly away from what the other programmes have delivered but nevertheless, a piece of work that reminds us of our responsibilities to all.
Ian D. Hall