A powerful and poignant example of hope and activism that moves beyond age or demographic.
Produced collaboratively by Fuel, Imaginate, Northern Stage and the National Theatre of Scotland, Hannah Lavery’s Protest took to the Traverse Theatre for a two day run. Playful, emotional, and full of youthful depth, the audience was left energized and empowered by the three performer’s energy and passion. In just one hour Jade, Alice, and Chloe brilliantly showcase the lived experience of girlhood as the illusion of fairness is shattered that very first time. A more presentational show, the three in turn share with the audience their primary school experiences of injustice, racism, and fear for our planet. As their worlds move from shades of black and white to grey, we hear how the grownups in their lives encourage their strength and resilience to move towards effective action regardless of scale.
This whimsical show takes place on a striking and fantastical playset—expertly juxtaposing the seriousness of the topic—with brilliant physical levels designed by Amy Jane Cook. This playset is used in every manner imaginable through the hour’s performance through the expert direction of Nadia Iftkhar. The movement served as a great palate cleanse to the harder emotional moments of the piece allowing both actors and audience a moment to “shake it all off” and continue with the narrative. In terms of the writing itself, Hannah Lavery perfectly captures the innocence and rationale of young people without discrediting their own brilliance and power. Her ability to seamlessly intertwine the three narratives clearly demonstrates an understanding of that haunting heartbreak in learning that the world is not fair, but how we respond to it is in our control. All of this, paired with the clear direction from Natalie Ibu and Natasha Haws, made for a remarkable viewing experience.
This emotional and interactive piece could have fallen into the presentational trap, and yet it did not. The performers were incredibly believable and engaging even in their moments of silence. The audience was treated to a conversation with three young people recounting their experiences in that uniquely youthful way where tragedy and comedy and everything in between are made all the more heartbreaking and beautiful knowing these were new experiences for them. This piece was a welcome reminder for all ages to turn to kindness and hope in the face of adversity. We laughed, we cried, we were enthralled by these three young people and their ability to commit so fully to standing up for themselves and a better present and future.
26 – 27 Jan: Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh