Blackout - Review 

Some young people go to school carrying far heavier emotional baggage than their school bags.... 

I'm not generally a writer of blogs or reviews (I usually have a rant/chat in the office and I'm an 'appy chap for another week) however I got to see the play Blackout by Davey Anderson on Wednesday and I had to write about it. Sometimes, only sometimes, you get to see a play that resonates with you personally and does so much for you emotionally that you have to have your say about it on a wider platform. Here goes.... 

The piece is performed by a group of 5 young people from the Rhondda and co-produced by Motherload and RCT Theatres - it's one of Rachael Boltons projects as resident director at The Park and Dare Theatre and part of the National Theatre Connections festival.

*Disclaimer - I work for RCT Theatres. So you may think I'm a little biased as I know the young people and have worked with Rachael on a few projects in the past - but credit where it's due. It's not many people that get me to sob my heart out (especially in the small intimate studio setting that was created for this piece). 

The play, in short, is about a boy who is bullied. He's kicked, shoved and beaten; comes from a less-than-perfect home; his Grandad dies of cancer; and he gets in with the wrong crowd. It all becomes too much for him. All too prevalent a story in our society at large today. The play culminates in the young boy losing his mind without any support from you or I, his teachers - or his Mam for all her trying. He ends up committing a crime and the play is him ‘thinking aloud’ after waking up in a locked cell. The Mam stands by him throughout - her love is unconditional. 

The play moved me so much because it spoke of my valley, the deprivation so many in my community are accustomed too, the lack of support so many get in dealing with emotions that are too much for them to handle and process. It speaks of a boy who is caught up in something he didn't mean to do - it was the outcome of not treating the mentally ill mind of the young boy. Some of my family suffer with mental health issues and the mind of the boy portrayed in this piece reminded me of the struggles they battle with on a daily basis. The struggles they suffered with for years as the result of a lack of professional support. 

Only once did the play leave me disappointed - in the remarks of the ‘Judge’. S/he let him off lightly (don't get me wrong I was grateful for this) - but this is hardly ever the case when it comes to sentences handed out in poorer communities.

- The script is one long 'monologue' of the young boy’s thoughts so making it into this visually impressive piece of art is a job well done. It too easily could have been done as a one man “Light On, Lights Off job”. Dai awn Rachael!

- The set is minimalistic, a large metal poled square structure that was industrial and clinical, which in my mind conveyed a community without much and a mind confined by the four pillars. The accompanying actors cowering over or mangled in-between were strong visual images of the boys mind all messed up.

- The young people and especially so the lead did a fantastic job of making it feel real, current and important - the play is based on a true life story of a young boy of a similar age (late teens) so their ages were spot on and only added to the emotion; It is them and their peers that this is reflective of. 

At the heart of the play, in my mind, is the message that everyone deserves to be listened too, everyone should be awarded the level of support necessary and as a society we need to protect the most vulnerable within our communities. It tells us that we all have a duty in protecting and seeking help for those most in need. So - the fact that it's young people from (my) Rhondda Valley that are being given the opportunity to take part and convey this message to a wider audience is, above all else, the biggest achievement of this play (and probably what Davey Anderson wished for in writing it in the first place) the people with the least in society are taking the opportunity to give the best of gifts. Without the play, the young people courageous enough to perform it, and the support from the arts industry - we'd have one less tool in our armour to change the perception of /and raise awareness with those who lead our society, and schools, and youth centres - some young people in need feel the door is closed rather than open for them to discuss their demons. My actions or non action from now on could mean the difference between life or death. The play has created a change in me as I hope it has in the others fortunate to see it. 

Remember - Some young people go to school carrying far heavier emotional baggage than their school bags.... 

All the best to the cast, crew and creatives as they take this to Aberystwyth Arts Centre next month for the National Theatre Connections festival. Me, Mam, Dad and my brawd are hoping to be there in support! 

Over and out - thanks for reading, let me know what you thought of my ramble in a comment below. 

Diolch, 

Tom, Tom Jones; It's Not Unusual. ;)