Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
It would have undoubtedly pleased, intrigued, even fascinated the late, great Adrian Henri to have witnessed Horny Handed Tons Of Soil, not least for the acknowledgment of one of the three revered poets of the city of Liverpool but because of its absolute beauty. To be seen as beyond a performance, more of a living, breathing entity in which poetry becomes fine art, morphs into a moment of true artistic temperament which has been nursed and raised by more than just a tender loving of words, which has music, mood and movement sewn into its very fabric.
To convey art at any level, you do need to have on your side at least one person in which to witness the unfolding of the performance, in the case of Horny Handed Tons Of Soil, it is the riches brought by Lizzie Nunnery’s words, the music of Martin Heslop, Martin Smith, Vidar Norheim and Lizzie herself which make the hour sing as if it was a nightingale given freedom to explore the city’s landscape; but also with additional input from the likes of admired names in Liverpool’s artistic world, such as Tmesis’ Elinor Randle on movement direction, filming of Tim Brunsden and the lighting design of Julie Kearney.
This is the purest example of the group mechanism working perfectly in synchronicity to produce a spectacle that really catches the ear as well as the eyes and it sends a shiver down the spine to hear it being performed.
The phrase local, or indeed, national treasure is perhaps bounded round too often, it detracts from the work and insight, and leaves the artist open to distraction, yet in Lizzie Nunnery, it has to be said, the poetry she produces is such that, despite the fact she would probably not take the position due to firmly held beliefs, with the tenure of Poet Laureate coming up for renewal in the next 18 months, she would make the finest example of a name being put forward to fill the impending vacancy.
The combination of poetry, music and film in Horny Handed Tons Of Soil is enough to make the heart stand ready, the pulse quickening, the drama salivating; it is to this that Lizzie Nunnery, with the backing of the fabulous atmospheric, accomplished music provided by the musicians on stage, steals and lovingly breaks your heart. A love letter to the area of Liverpool that has undergone change, a near revolution, hardship and positivity, a sense of accomplishment that cannot be denied; full of character, each story held with a firm grip of delivery, Adrian Henri would have sang its praises from the top of the Unity Theatre.
Ian D. Hall