Filed under: Arts, life, politics, Scotland | Tags: 365, David Harrower, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Festival, Festival 08, national theatre of Scotland, Scotland, theatre, Vicky Featherstone
I was privileged to be among the audience at the opening night of The National Theatre of Scotland’s Festival production of 365 -a new play by David Harrower (appropriate name) and directed by Vicky Featherstone, at The Playhouse in Edinburgh last night.
The show was sold out and for good reason.
It’s a polemic piece about the plight of young people entering society after life in care. The show explores, through a cast of about 16, mostly in their teens, what the reality of life is in such a friendless, hostile and downright scary environment.
It’s performed by an ensemble, so no one particular actor stood out. But the technical achievements were noteworthy. Set, sound design, lighting and choreography were all outstanding. Paul Buchanan’s specially commissioned song that forms a central part of the denouement is spine tingling.
The acting is universally good and at times excellent.
But the greatness of the play is all about the writing.
This is very modern theatre and, as such, doesn’t follow a plotline or typical narrative structure and although it’s fairly bleak it’s by no means humourless. Fundamentally though it touches on the very darkest side of society – misogyny, neglect, class, prejudice, sexual orientation, fear and lack of confidence. Essentially it is about loneliness because most of the relationships we witness are a veneer.
Life as a kid with no familial network is not a good place to be and David Harrower brings this into sharp relief quickly and consistently.
I think it could do with a touch of editing but overall this is an important, thought-provoking and engaging piece of work.
I notice it’s playing at the Lyric, Hammersmith from 9 – 29 September. Not knowing the theatre I suspect it will be rather less spectacular than in The Playhouse which, as a stage, offers wide open spaces (and which contributed to the theme of isolation by its very brooding presence).
It’s distinctly Scottish, but the points it makes are universal and you lot in Englandshire shouldn’t struggle too much with the dialect. (You might not like the language though. My god, the National Theatre of Scotland like a fucking swearword do they not?)
11 Comments so far
Leave a comment
You see, I’d much rather read a review like that in my paper.
Great picture of the stage, set and lighting. Bleak and distant.
Comment by James August 24, 2008 @ 9:54 am365 COULD do with editing.It was a wearisome 2 hours and no interval.I agree that the theme was important and most performances strong, but it would have benefited from showcasing fewer stories for greater emotional impact. The dance and the stunts like the wee girl sent soaring hanging onto a big green balloon were the best bits.As a social worker, the worst bit for me was the very poor and unrealistic portrayal of a supposed colleague.We have many faults but overt racism and swearing at young people are not strongly featured in my 30 years experience..
Comment by LYN fae Stirling August 28, 2008 @ 2:56 pmi agree. The social worker wasn’t totally sympathetic.
Comment by markgorman August 28, 2008 @ 4:22 pmI loved 365 and thought it a true theatrical experience. Drama, physical theatre, music, movement, symbolism, merging of dramatic themes and set – everything was there. Loved the Hansel and Gretel imagery in the woods. Love the set sliding the girl back to her four year old self under the table. Excellent use of language and it was fully comprehensible to the English. It was definitely not linear and nor should it have been. As for the social worker – well dramatic licence.
Comment by Bernice Wolfenden August 29, 2008 @ 9:02 amWhat a shame that a couple of professionals have got so defensive about the portrayal of a social worker. Just as everyone who has ever worked in care has probably worked with every single one of the chracters on the stage 100 times over, I suspect every single care leaver has had expereince of the toe curlingly awful social worker portrayed in 365. It doesn’t mean all social worers are like that. The peice was well researched and reflects the veiws of young peopkle who have very recently left care. As long as there are any children out there whose expereince is of the kinds of negative characteristic portrayed in the SW on stage in 365 then all of us as professional should be prepared to acknoweldge that there is still much work to be done to imporve the system. This is a superb and stimulating peice of theatre, accessible and challenging to ‘ordinary’ theatre goers as well as those who are involved in the issues. Every social worker and leaving care worker should go and see it – and maybe too a handful of the legislators who think it is okay to kick kids out of care at age 16. Go there and prepare to be moved; not to be defensive and defend the indefensible.
Comment by hayley morgan September 11, 2008 @ 7:38 pmworst play ever!!!…i was nearly going to commit suicide…i really don’t understand how something could get sooo bad…
Comment by Mark September 14, 2008 @ 12:46 amAm huge fan of Paul Buchanan.. Did he sing live or was it a recording or did someone else sing it?
Comment by fiona September 22, 2008 @ 5:05 pmWould like to have seen the show but live too far away..
Hey Fiona
I’m afraid it was only a recording but brilliant.
It’s on in LOndon now I believe.
Mark
Comment by markgorman September 23, 2008 @ 10:09 amworst play ever it was so bad that i was also going to die of boredom.
Comment by bobi November 11, 2008 @ 9:36 pmit was just so randomly rubbish.
Oh well. Cest la vie
Comment by markgorman November 11, 2008 @ 10:11 pmHey there I was an extra in this play When Alot of young adults came out at the end and we folled the other actors moves and came to the frount of the stage and stared at the adince it was so powerfull for us to not just for them.plsese contact me if you have the photos of that seen.
Comment by Wayne August 19, 2009 @ 2:02 am