Emmerdale plays strong to support Samantha Giles in debut of Kay Mellor’s final play at Leeds Grand Theater

Kay Mellor’s latest play has come to life presented in a moving and humorous way at Leeds Grand Theatre.

City legend and Yorkshire champion Kay Mellor has died aged 71 in 2022. Famous for the boundary-pushing Band of Gold, set in Bradford’s red lights, and Fat Friends, which recently found a new public on Netflix, the screenwriter and screenwriter was known as one of the UK’s most prolific.

Arguably, The Syndicate was one of her most beloved creations. It ran for four series on BBC1 between 2012 and 2021. Daughter Gaynor Faye made her stage directorial debut bringing her mother’s play Syndicate to the stage – launching the tour in Leeds. Making it a real family affair, the cast also features Mellor’s nephew Oliver Anthony.

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Following a familiar path to television incarnations, the Syndicate play takes a look at the impact money has on working-class peers after a big lottery win – just £24 million to be exact.

Of course, as you might expect, the money doesn’t necessarily bring happiness for all five members of the syndicate – made up of staff at a fictional Meanwood supermarket. Big names in the cast include Coronation Street’s Brooke Vincent and Emmerdale’s Samantha Giles. It was lovely to see many of my former Emmerdale co-stars in the crowd for Thursday night’s press night.

Fellow Emmerdale alum Gaynor Faye stars as the lottery adjudicator, alongside balancing her directing responsibilities. In a subtle but heartfelt tribute, her character is named Kay.

The decor is unapologetically Nordic, with little nods that the home crowd appreciated. Trade union leader Denise is played by Giles, who Emmerdale fans may be horrified to know says ‘f**k’ at one point, with the character providing the comedic glue that holds the production together. William Ilkley’s bob also provides laughs.

There is one big play, key to the narrative, that depicts a nuanced drama with that Mellor humor. This results in an excellent performance from Jerome Ngonadi’s battle-weary suspect DCI Newall as he tries to find out what’s wrong with the lottery winners.

Small interludes of music, often tinged towards money and materialism, help the plot progress. It’s worth noting, of course, that each protagonist’s backstory can’t be explored in the same depth as a six-part TV show.

Despite the fact that there are several laughs (often due to the sight of Giles and Vincent swearing at the type of rupture), the emotional blow comes inevitably, for many of our protagonists. That familiar message of money is not always the path to happiness, being present.

As the cast took their bow, Emmerdale’s Laura Norton, in attendance with some of the other cast mates, led a standing ovation for Giles and his fellow members of The Syndicate.

There is no doubt that director Faye has made her mother proud. If you were a fan of the TV show, then this bonus ball will come as a big win.

The Syndicate will be at Leeds Grand Theater until Sunday 28th April. You can find out more and buy tickets here.

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