RAGE and adolescence are themes being explored by Stratford Youth Theatre in its new production of Vivienne Franzemann’s ‘The It’.
The play, first commissioned and produced by The National Theatre in 2020, tells the story of Grace Freemantle, a teen who discovers she has something growing inside her. She doesn’t know what it is, but she does know it’s not a baby.
It starts in her stomach and quickly takes over the entirety of her insides but she can’t contain it. Sooner or later something’s got to give.
The It is a darkly comic state of the nation play, exploring adolescence and the rage within.
Performed by a company of 25 local young people, and directed by Aaron Bixley and Sarah Plowright, this is Stratford Youth Theatre’s first production at The Bear Pit Theatre.
Sarah said: “Our talented cast are tackling this evocative, challenging new play with such energy and insight, I know audiences will love it.
“The play was written just before the pandemic and during rehearsals we’ve found that it’s brought into very sharp focus the pressure and stresses piled upon young people today.
“It’s been really interesting to examine the impact of social media and round the clock news bulletins. As a company we have pushed ourselves explore the chal-lenges in a very physical way.”
The theatre group managed to continue meeting and rehearsing through the pandemic and even stage a production last year after months of online rehearsals. Find a Partner!, by Miriam Battye, was performed in a socially distanced open air production at Stratfodrd Racecourse while a performance at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, was filmed without an audience and available to watch online.
The It is being performed tomorrow (February 25) and Saturday at the Bear Pit Theatre in Rother Street.
Visit www.rsc.org.uk/buy-tickets/items/49812 to book tickets.
