Charithra Chandran makes her fantastic stage debut in a one-woman show which shines light on teenage mental health.
One-woman shows have become increasingly popular on the West End in recent years, from Jodie Comer’s incredible performance in Prima Facie at the Harold Pinter back in 2022, to Sarah Snook in the current run of The Picture of Dorian Gray. But there aren’t many one-girl shows. Author, film-maker and actress Rosie Day decided that it was time for this to change, and in response to this lack of representation of the younger generation, she penned Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon. Originally performed by Day herself at the Southwalk Playhouse in 2022, the play has since been used as a basis for a self-help book of the same title (‘30 kick-ass women on how to take over the world’). Now, Day has passed over the starring role to Carithra Chandran, best known for her work on Bridgerton and Alex Rider. The new production directed by Georgie Straight runs for a limited time at The Garrick, only on Sundays, with the final performance on 28th April.
Day has worked with STEM4, a prominent teenage mental health charity, for nearly a decade. Shocked by the statistic that one in four teenage girls self-harm, Day was motivated to raise awareness about the challenges faced by teenagers today and the lack of support available for the younger generations. The result is a poignant coming-of-age narrative that addresses various traumas, including grief, self-harm, eating disorders, sexual assault, grooming, and depression. It’s a play that requires a lot of heavy trigger warnings.
Puberty is a tough time, any adult can remember that. Your body is changing, emotions are running high: you’re angry, sad, confused, hormones are wreaking havoc on your brain. And Eileen has to navigate all this tumult while dealing with the death of her 17-year-old sister Olive, who’s heart gave out following a years-long struggle with anorexia. Eileen (who is only named at the end of the play) deals with her trauma through sarcasm, commenting ‘at least the coffin will be light’ while in the funeral home, and joking that if Olive were to be reincarnated that she would simply come back as ‘skinny’. It is the insensitive humour of a teenager who uses jokes as a coping mechanism when faced with such overwhelming grief.
Following the death of her sister, Eileen is alienated at school as her peers are unsure how to interact with a classmate who has lost a sibling. Struggling with socialising, she latches on to american-accented cigarette-smoking cool girl Ella, a fellow scout who coaxes her toward rebellion. Meanwhile, Eileen’s parents’ marriage disintegrates, and as they enter relationships with new partners they grow emotionally distant from her, leading her to feel increasingly isolated. Eileen is groomed by an older man, and in a particularly horrifying scene we hear about her sexual assault, and the lack of treatment she receives from health services, an experience which is shared by a shockingly large number of young women.
It’s a compelling story that tackles important themes, but at times it feels a little disjointed. The blocking itself is basic and unchallenging. The inclusion of projected videos featuring Ella as well as Eileen’s parents (Philip Glenister and Shelley Conn) and voiceover from Sensible Scout Leader Susan (Maxine Peake) are unnecessary and detract from Chandran’s strong performance – she is already multi-rolling, surely it’d be more effective to give her all the characters. Despite this, Chandran shines in her West End debut (and a one-woman show is no walk in the park). Eye-rolling and armed with witty remarks, she makes for a believable teenager. She navigates the more traumatic scenes with raw vulnerability and emotion, captivating the audience and earning their empathy.
It’s not quite the angst-filled rebellion that the title promises, but Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon is a touching story with a vital message. With potential to raise awareness about teenage mental health, and running at just 80 minutes, it is one which I would recommend, particularly to young women. If you are or were once a teenage girl – there’s something in here that you will relate to.