Frozen Love: a Buckingham Nicks Story is a fantastic show, perfect for any fan of Fleetwood Mac, or Daisy Jones and The Six. It tells the true story of the relationship between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham before they joined Fleetwood Mac, interspersed with both well-known songs such as Landslide and Rhiannon, as well as lesser-known tracks from their 1973 release Buckingham Nicks (which, coincidentally, is set to be redistributed later this year).
The voices of actors Georgie Banks and Jake Byrom had a delicious depth, as engulfing as the experience of listening to Fleetwood Mac. Every song was charged with emotion, and their harmonies together were gorgeous.
Both actors played guitars with brilliant confidence and coolness. The moment when Banks took up the electric guitar was a highlight, as was a solo moment from Byrom, when his tribute to Buckingham’s father became utterly emotional. Vocally, physically, and emotionally, it was astounding.
The depiction of the relationship between Nicks and Buckingham was equally compelling: tumultuous yet always underpinned by the inevitable sense that they needed one another for the music. Their intimacy felt incredibly true to the characters, and the tortured push and pull of their dynamic had the audience completely invested.
Banks’ portrayal of Stevie Nicks was particularly striking, as she wrestled with her confidence, her responsibilities, and her yearning for more from her career. It was refreshing to see such an iconic figure depicted so humanly, and I found myself empathising with her throughout.
The set, evocative of the inside of Buckingham and Nicks’ first flat, was predominantly wooden, and the show’s aesthetic felt entirely true to the music and imagery of Fleetwood Mac. However, due to the small size of the venue, it was at times difficult to see the full set unless seated in the front row, and whenever action took place on the floor it was almost impossible to catch.
I would have loved to see more of this show. I wanted them to keep telling the story, and the hour felt too short for all that the narrative and music had to offer. The writing could have been sharpened slightly towards the end to provide a stronger emotional impact.
Frozen Love was a heartfelt tribute to two musical legends, and a thoroughly delightful watch.
The show ran until 16 August at Theatre 1 at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall.
Find more information here.
Image courtesy of The Space Press Office, provided as press material to The
Student.