In the dark confines of a shipping container Paul Campbell delivers a beautiful elegy to a lost supermarket – the reasonably priced, but no longer extant Somerfield.

 

Wearing a suitably cheap looking funeral suit, Campbell shares fond memories of unassuming, own brand confectionary. He evokes the slightly damp taste of the biscuits.

 

Somerfield may be a half-remembered feature of British life in the noughties but to Campbell it is his happy place.  And he is here to mourn its loss.

 

He has brought with him some precious mementos. There are faded advertisements, framed photos of Somerfield shop furniture – a portrait of a well-regarded manager from his favourite store.

 

All of these treasures are handled with utter reverence as Campbell remembers the past glories of the produce aisle.

 

He has the tapes, recorded in his bedroom as a teenager, when his local branch of Somerfield finally closed down. How would the world ever be the same again? How would he cope with the emotional impact of the loss.

 

Campbell’s commitment to his subject matter does not waver for a moment. And he invites us in to join him in his profound exploration of grief.

 

Store announcements interrupt the show at key moments – allowing Campbell to move between the various stages – anger, denial, acceptance. Each stage is paired with a reasonably priced grocery item.

 

Campbell has bizarre prejudices. “Tesco” in his vocabulary is almost an obscenity.  “Somerfield” by contrast, is always deeply thrilling.

 

The jokes are beautifully written and land perfectly. There’s a delightful absurdity to his whole mission and the choice of such a universal human experience draws our attention and holds us there.

 

Supermarket-themed audience participation helps involve us further – even the lady from Australia happily confides which Antipodean supermarket chain she loves the most.

 

Campbell is utterly loveable in his awkwardness. He makes it easy to be carried along into this strange world where the closure of a supermarket is a life-changing and devastating event. 

 

Underneath it all is the pathos of an awkward obsessive lonely teenager – who found comfort and solace in a perfectly formed novelty pie or a strange and new species of crisps.

 

The unexpected kindness of the lady on the meat counter is a beautiful reminder that little unexpected gestures can sometimes transform the world for the people around us.

 

Paradoxically, Campbell’s love affair with a shop highlights the cruelty and carelessness of capitalism. But it also celebrates connection and community in a way which will leave you with a feeling of love and hope in your heart.

 

 

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