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Rebels with a cause or two Kidnapping Cameron Birmingham Rep The Old Rep, Birmingham **** The adolescent years are all about
rebelliousness and this play tells the tale of what happens when a bunch
of youngsters take political matters into their own hands. Lucy (Hannah Kelly) is the bossy but enterprising
15-year old who is inspired and angered by the real-life story of
Jessica Trueman who wrote to David Cameron about the closure of
libraries. Hatching a plan to kidnap the Prime Minister,
Lucy is aided by Sarah who is worried that she can't go to university,
James who thinks he may never get a job, Michael who is already anxious
about the future for his unborn children and a team of other teenagers. The plan succeeds and the young people get their
chance to explain their concerns about the impact of Government cuts,
but David Cameron tells them that as an individual, his hands are tied.
What to do next to make sure their concerns are listened to? At this
stage in the performance, everything becomes a bit surreal when Lucy's
next kidnapping - of the Queen – is also successful but she can't do
anything to help them either. The cast sings and dances with verve and
enthusiasm as we watch them portray a team who are grappling with
leadership issues and what to do with their high profile captives. The
role of Lucy is an effective vehicle for Hannah Kelly to show her
undoubted talents.
She's ably supported by Grace Barrington, Connor
Doyle, Franklyn O'Connor and the spirited, talented others in her gang.
All ends happily when Justin Bieber (amusingly portrayed by Thomas
Goodall) happens to pass by. Taking a fancy to Lucy, he helps the
youngsters save face and release their hostages. The power of celebrity! This play was commissioned for and developed with
members of The Birmingham Young REP and it provides a vehicle for the
young people to protest about the impact of Government cuts on the lives
of ordinary people. That sounds serious, but the play is actually
quite funny. The set and lighting are effective with a
Notebook of Forgiveness and news bulletins (read by Johnny Lomax) being
important to the plot. The performance certainly offers a different
perspective from the usual tales of youth disenchantment and
disengagement. In the final analysis, the overall message is quite a
powerful one. Why not teach politics in schools to encourage more young
people to play an active part in creating change? The audience is asked to deposit their own
letters to Downing Street in a box before they leave. We did, and here's
hoping that others do the same. To 21-07-12 Written by Jennifer Tuckett
Laura Ginesi
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