Alecky Blythe’s ‘Our Generation’ never quite matches up to ‘London Road’, but it is still a fine play with a talented cast.
31 March 2022
Alecky Blythe’s celebrated 2011 National Theatre musical-play, ‘London Road’, occupies a place in my ‘top twenty all-time best’ list of London theatrical productions. ‘Our Generation’ never quite matches that feat, but still makes for a fascinating, if long, evening at the theatre.
The play was workshopped from dialogues recorded in interviews with 12 diverse teenagers from all four UK nations between 2015 and 2020. It charts developments in their lives that are always unique to the young people concerned, but which come together to tell a bigger story about the lives, loves, preoccupations, and fears of the post 2000, Gen Z generation.
There is no plot to speak of, although each character has a journey to recount and a story to tell. Some are funny, some are inspiring, some flirt with real tragedy, but all are ultimately life affirming, Each is scripted by Alecky Blythe with absolute integrity and with manifest respect for the young people concerned. We often laugh at the things the characters say, or do, or think, but never at the teenagers themselves.
I am not sure if the play’s creative team were simply lucky to find 12 such appealing emerging personalities to focus on, or (more likely I think) were able to draw out what was fascinating in the ups and downs of 12 average teens’ lives. Either way, I have really felt so involved with, or cared so much about, characters on stage.
The empathy one feels with all 12 of Our Generation’s characters happens, I think, because one can see as the play progresses how much the teenagers come to trust their interviewers, often revealing aspects of themselves they do not even share with parents. The audience becomes a proxy for the interviewer and at a performative level it becomes difficult to distinguish between the real lives that are revealed, often in heart-breaking detail, and the actors playing the parts.
It is a trifle crass to pick out specific performances from an all-round excellent ensemble. But Hélder Fernandes’ heart-warming performance as gauche, academically challenged but glass-half-full, Kosovan refugee will remain with me some time. Sarita Gabony also stands out as Mia, a disadvantaged Cardiff girl who ultimately (we hope) breaks free from an endlessly revolving pattern of abusive relationships.
At 3 hours 45 mins, audiences are in for a long evening. I suppose it could have been shorter, but I am glad it was not. Any less would not have done these 12 delightful teens justice.
Duration: 3 hours 40 mins. Two intervals.
Writer Alecky Blythe
Director Daniel Evans
Cast
Full Disclosure: I paid full box-office price for the ticket.
