Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond
A touching new collaboration between the 18-25 Bush Young Company and Emerging Writer’s Group alumnus Kit Withington.Summary
Rating
Excellent
The Bush Theatre is undeniably deeply invested in the theatre-makers of tomorrow. Their programme boasts not one but two young companies, plus a close collaboration with Jerwood Arts, aimed at staging work by members of the Bush Theatre Emerging Writer’s Group. As We Face The Sun, is an example of the effective internal collaboration taking place between these groups. Performed by the 18-25 Bush Young Company and written by EWG alumnus Kit Withington, it is a touching examination of how young minds deal with shared grief.
The play follows a group of classmates on their journey back to normalcy after an ill-fated school trip results in the death of a friend. The students must rapidly learn how to deal with grief, how to honour their friend’s memory, and deal with the fact that Miss can no longer even look them in the eye. As they move quickly through the play – which is underscored by a soundtrack of early-noughties hits, brilliantly designed by Khalil Madovi – the young cast easily inhabit this heartbreaking mix of youthful energy, deep sadness, and unexpected guilt. Told through a series of snippet scenes jumping between the past and present, As We Face The Sun examines how we can move on from collective grief when some of us don’t feel ready to let go.
In a show packed with the highs and lows typical of a coming of age story, the capable cast deliver laughs and heartbreak with equal commitment. Co-directors Katie Greenall & Lynette Linton are certainly to be recognised for their work with the company. Poignant onstage moments show they have invested in creating a strong sense of unity and trust within the cast. Standout examples of such moments include Lorry (Coral Wylie) and Tash’s (Kc Gardiner) downstage interaction as Tash breaks down at the final party, and the ensemble’s collective re-enactment of the crash that killed their friend and started it all.
The cast handles the content well, at times creating moments of emotion that move their audience to tears, such as near the end of the play, as the characters lose themselves in a wild, healing dance session, and everything pulls together to create an instant of pure release. Simeon Miller’s lighting design brings an explosive, almost animalistic atmosphere to the theatre, and suddenly, the now-adult classmates are one in their desire for freedom from their long-borne pain.
Yet, while the story is well-written, touching and, for some, undoubtedly easy to relate to, the script itself could use tightening up. A few of the more tenuous transitions between past and present scenes result in a loss of audience engagement and a drop in the story’s impact. It could also be argued that certain characters’ involvement in the story’s progression is slightly superfluous. Yet, it may be that these weaknesses are side-effects of the script’s commissioned requirements. After all, it is incredibly hard to write a script that provides equal stage time, lines, and character development opportunities for fourteen actors. Withington should be commended for her success in this. Each character is distinct and interesting, providing a worthwhile challenge for the performers to sink their teeth into – which they do. Amongst the talented cast are a few standout individuals whose powerfully emotive performances suggest exciting futures on the stage. It’s thrilling to think that this is only the beginning for some of these young actors.
While I’m unsure what future this script may have outside of the young company context, I am convinced this will not be the last we see of Withington’s writing or, indeed, the talented members of this cohort of BYC performers.
Written by: Kit Withington
Co-Directed by: Katie Greenall & Lynette Linton
Set & Costume Design by: Hazel Low
Lighting Design by: Simeon Miller
Sound Design by: Khalil Madovi
Produced by: Holly Smith
As We Face The Sun has completed its current run at Bush Theatre.
