REVIEW – A FESTIVAL of YOUTH THEATRE

Performed by LANCASTER FOOTLIGHTS YOUTH THEATRE
and HEYSHAM HIGH SCHOOL Theatre Group

The Grand Theatre, St Leonardgate, Lancaster
Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 March 2006

Two widely different shows
admirably showcasing local young theatrical talent

It is good to hear that Lancaster's Grand Theatre is promoting and encouraging young people to get involved with the theatre in a practical way. On second thoughts, though, one should never have to be make a point about being grateful for this; rather it should be seen as a mandatory, day-to-day and bread-and-butter activity.

What, then, does The Grand do on these lines? Well, they host and stage a number of shows aimed at younger audiences, they have an in-house Footlights Youth Theatre which mounts productions now and then, and during the last few days, has promoted a Festival of Youth Theatre.

This consists of two pieces on the same night: Shut Up by Andrew Payne, performed by Heysham High School Youth Theatre, and the Footlights Youth Theatre production of Dario Fo's The Devil in Drag. This is reviewed separately, (click here to see our review of this play), so I will comment only on the Heysham offering here.

The play deals with a young teenager, Dexter, who hasn't been talking for some months. His parents, peers at school, teacher and various medics and shrinks cannot find out what the problem is. But he eventually breaks out from his imprisonment, and ...

... you must guess at the ending, which startles everyone, including Dexter. It is, then, a play about communication, verbal, visual and in the media, particularly on television, which gets a bad press here. Quite rightly; this is a disturbing piece about learning, development and influences on the young.

The students at Heysham High School have worked very hard on this piece, and turned in a very good production. Acting was assured, in both the larger ensemble scenes and the frequent silences. Staging was generally good, though some odd lighting, blocking and sound jarred on the first night. Shane Leeming in particular delivered a wonderfully controlled portrayal of the unfortunate Dexter, and Hannah Jones was also good as his caring best mate (don't call me 'Tat') Tatiana.

There were commendable performances from the rest of the eleven-strong cast too. Costumes were cleverly done in the abstract: labelled t-shirts, black trousers and bare feet. The adult roles in particular were well done, particularly Dexter's anxious parents (Patsy Morton and Gareth Horne).

It is really good to see stage productions of students from our local schools, yet we see so few (exceptions have been Ripley St Thomas and the two Lancaster Grammar Schools). Now Heysham High has shown that good things are going on in the drama department too. If you want to see how they have tackled this show, it is on again at The Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal on April 28.

Good to see that theatre is, in these days of an appallingly restricted National Curriculum and a general disdain for the arts in general, flourishing amidst the young people in schools hereabouts.

Copyright © 24 March 2006 Michael Nunn

Links
• Heysham High School
www.heysham.lancs.sch.uk