As guests fill their seats the three teen characters, dressed in their school uniforms, cheekily interact with the audience from the circular stage lit by a singular halo light above it. The first moments the audience are already giggling before the play has even begun.
Shaw, Nwokoro and Godwin are up there with the most captivating actors I’ve seen.
Set in an inner-city London school the three characters; Rugrat played by Khai Shaw, who is the class clown, desperate for attention, Joanne played by Rachel Nwokoro, the tough girl with a good comeback and Kehinde played by Anyebe Godwin – the school nerd unashamedly himself. The interweaving stories the characters as they bare all and talk about their most painful, funny and heart-warming life experiences, going through their own journeys of discovery and self-awareness. Written by Arinzé Kene, who also wrote the hit play Misty showcases more of his talent for writing theatre with this piece. The characters accentuate each other’s differences while balancing one another out in a beautiful way – all while showing the true chemistry these actors have together.
The direction from Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu is to be admired giving the characters a videogame-like reaction as they interchange characters to fit with the story being told displays the skills that each of the actors possess in a fun and innovate way. The music used is an immediate flash back for those that would have grown up in the 00s.
The story manages to touch on so many important subjects – especially for young people growing up in London. Not many stories like these are told to be shown. Shaw, Nwokoro and Godwin are up there with the most captivating actors I’ve seen.
There is a real energy when watching this play that is something that isn’t often experienced.
The whole experience illuminates how storytelling can really be an art. There is a real energy when watching this play that is something that isn’t often experienced. Not a moment goes by that you won’t be totally engrossed by what is happening in front of you. If you have a chance to see it, do.
