A riotous rollercoaster of 19 new mini-plays
At a time where arts organisations across Edinburgh and the country are being put under extreme pressure, one of the most important things we can do is encourage a new generation of theatremakers and pass on the love we have. This is exactly what Class Act does, going into schools around Edinburgh and over two months empowering young people to write their own short plays, working with professional playwrights to hone them, and then performing them live with a full showcase at the Traverse Theatre.
Class Act’s 2024 Winter Showcase was a riotous rollercoaster of 19 new mini-plays by young people, pivoting each time from comedy to murder mystery to family drama to Western gunfight. It is such a joy to see so many wild ideas come to life and I was thrilled by the originality of each play. A few highlights (and it truly is difficult to just pick a few) include: Y2K Shakespeare by Kinz Luis, where Juliet has a hundred Romeos on speed dial including the macho Misogynistic Romeo and the emotionally-supportive Gay Romeo; Murder On the Line by Arran MacDonald and Phillip Trusson, an Agatha Christie murder mystery that cleverly unfolds the motives of the killer through the investigation; and Last Orders by Finn Shearer and Josh Glendinning, a DND campaign performed live with a mysterious power hoodwinking a young adventurer into more than just a tavern. It was really interesting to see the things that young people today care about (climate change, exams, consumerism) and Class Act allowed them to express that through art.
Other than the great imaginations of the young writers, the show relies upon the fantastic skill of the directors, actors, and crew who make each play shine to their full potential. James Ley and Ben Standish’s direction keeps a breakneck pace, chopping and changing cast members, lighting and sound to keep the show running. Each play felt like it was given its own moment to shine and had been treated with absolute care, from whipping up the winds of a storm in the Wild West to tenderly handling a young girl’s crush.
The cast was without exception great performers and clearly loving the challenge of portraying so many different characters in one performance (including a moment where they get to do their best impressions of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Alba and the Rock). Afton Moran was a particular delight to watch, with such a variety of comedic facial expressions and a new physicality for every strange character they portrayed. The unofficial 7th cast member was composer and sound designer Oguz Kaplangi, on-stage throughout and adding audio flair to the action, playing both instruments and props (and occasionally playing Chappell Roan karaoke tracks).
Everyone involved in Class Act’s Winter Showcase deserves a huge congratulations for their part in creating such a joyful event, whether it’s the young people themselves, the facilitators creating this opportunity, and the professionals who brought the ideas to life with such aplomb. Class Act has been going for 30 years so far, and long may it continue.