‘A heartfelt story of male friendship’
Gricers (Railway Enthusiasts) is inspired by Francis Bourgeois’s book The Trainspotters Notebook and Tom Quinn’s book the Railways’ Strangest Journeys and is part of the Liverpool Improv Festival 2026. It is directed by Mark Smith and is a story of friendship and intense obsession with trainspotting. Mike (Mike Burton) and Mark (Mark Smith) are Gricers, trainspotters to us, who meet up weekly at the train station in a particular spot to add engine numbers to their collection. However, this is their story of what happens when they are standing together and the friendship that they share.
Mark and Mike meet in all kinds of weather in every season. In between the arrival and departures, we listen to their storytelling, squabbles over who brought the sandwiches, who didn’t bring the biscuits, and we learn how they have a friendship that has lasted decades and slowly reveal how much this friendship means to them. We also meet The Trainee (Fergus Wynne) who over time becomes part of their friendship. Everything from Temu to personal grooming is discussed, advice given and taken. We learn how they are coping with the changes that come in their lives and how their friendship adapts.
Good use of lighting frames the scenes along with the gentle use of music reinforcing the emotions that are being felt but unsaid.
Trainspotting is unique to British Culture and Gricers captures this perfectly.
Gricers performs as part of Liverpool Improvisation Festival which runs 7th – 10th May 2026. Further details https://www.liverpoolimprovfestival.com/
Review Date: 7th May 2026
Star Rating: FOUR