Ask Me Anything – A Loud, Live, Love Song To
Not Having Figured It Out
Newcastle Live Theatre
Until Saturday 8 February 2020
Created & Presented by The Paper Birds
Co-Produced with Live Theatre
Music by Rosie Doonan
Directed by Jemma McDonnell
Performers: Georgie Coles, Rosie Doonan, Kylie Perry
The flexible stage in the main theatre at Newcastle’s
Quayside venue has been transformed into a teenager’s bedroom. That’s right,
they’ve ripped out the stage and removed the cabaret seating. In their place
are two beds, a settee and a lot of bean bags for the audience to join the
show. Indeed, the audience are expected to join the show rather than to just
sit passively in the dark.
So, what is the show about? Paper Birds have written to a
number of teenagers asking them to “ask anything”. This show has the original
questions and the replies.
Here’s the issue. If you were a teenager in the 90s then
you have magazines and problem pages. The lack of the internet and mobile
phones was, somehow, not an issue. Yet kids today, even with the internet, don’t
necessarily have a conduit for safe answers to their key questions.
The set has, in addition to two bedrooms, a music area, and
a number of TV screens. We have a virtual assistant, which has been named “Bridge-It”
and it is able to act as a glossary to the phrases which one generation may not
understand about the other. Sometimes the screens feature videos of people that
the creative team have asked, as they are in a better position, to discuss some
of the points raised – especially about raising children, race or sexuality.
But the bulk of the performance are from three very engaging performers.
The stage play is available for sale – the show is
scripted, however Georgie, Rosie and Kylie feel spontaneous. The interactions with the audience are friendly
and they do a great job putting everyone at ease.
The problems, from unseen teens, are discussed but they are
also related to the performer’s own experiences. That sense of not expecting to know everything
– that I have in middle-age – is probably not what the younger participants are
expecting. But the need for discussion, for love, to seek for support rather
than trying to hide it are key themes. Music, and its ability to emote adds to
the experience too.
I went to the show with my teen, who enjoyed the show very
much and clearly understood where the issues were coming from. I appreciated
the texture to the performances – the build up of light and noise, followed by
calm, helping to create an impact. Along with the pace, it certainly kept the
show interesting. There were the little touches that added to the feel: the
whispering volume for when the original letters were addressed and the burger
telephone from the 90s bedroom for example.
The show bravely doesn’t dodge two important issues – mental
health is as important as physical health and, as adults we still have scary
learning episodes including raising our own children. Having said that – it doesn’t
then offer much in the way of answers and that’s a key message. We need to
listen, to be aware of our support networks and to foster them. Remember that no
one is perfect.
This is a great show for teenagers to see – and the company
are running a scheme in order to raise funds so young people can be offered a
free tickets (https://www.thepaperbirds.com/help-build-our-nest/).
It gets the mix of light hearted moments and the tough stuff right. This is an
important rollercoaster to be a part of. A superb example of verbatim theatre.
Review: Stephen Oliver
Tickets:
1hr 20mins, no interval
Suitable for ages 13+, contains strong language and themes
of mental health and youth suicide.
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