Through the making of theatre The Big House
provides a platform for young people who’ve been through the care system and
being challenged by life, an opportunity to have their voices heard, in KnifeEdge we certainly hear their voices!
I was shocked by the directness and
frankness of those voices the plays language pulled no punches in making
manifest the anger the youth felt about the way they’d been treated by society - it was full-on, frank and foul.
I was left in no doubt at the young people’s resentment, mistrust and
suspicion, rejection being their experience and expectation. They in turn rejected many of those sent
by society to care for them; a line from the play that reflected that despair
and mistrust for me was one directed to a carer ‘You only care ‘cos you’re being
paid!’
The acting was without exception powerful
and emotional, I had the sense these guys were not acting but living their
lives before us. - the words came from
their own lives.
The settings were brilliantly innovative as
we – the audience moved around the restaurant from sets depicting a Nando’s restaurant to a kitchen to a living rooms and the street. The
lighting was particularly inventive much use being made of plastic water bottles and LED light strips – you have see it to believe
how magical it made the various sets as we were led from one scene to another
around the entire restaurant space.
As the play moves form one scene to another, the young people are on an emotional journey
from one life changing event to another
we the audience followed their story
through a physical journey as we moved
from set to set .
Knife Edge’s ending is as powerful as
moving as its beginning as we the audience complete our promenade as we are
invited to share a meal with the actors - cannot speak highly enough of the
Hawaiian style fish – sharing food , Knife Edge and their lives.
I very much enjoyed the meal both the food and meeting and sharing
with the actors and The Big House production team , the meal was also a chance to network with
other like minded folk concerned about the life outcomes of our young people
leaving the care service. I was minded
of Cameron’s statement that children in care have been 'let down for too long'
something had to be done by Government,
To conclude my Knife Edge promenade showed me that
there is hope as young people from care despite set backs can ‘make it’ but we
can certainly do more to help them on their promenade.
Knife Edge - a great evening's entertainment with good food and good company and a strong message - recommended !
