My five favourite plays, chosen by ...Aimee McGoldrick

by Stef Smith

National Theatre

Connections 2015

Published by Methuen Drama

Cast: 1 of any gender, 2 males, 4 females, ensemble

Themes and issues: A modern play which focuses on a group of seven teenagers and their struggle to find their way in the world. From the outset, Antler (a girl), climbs a tree not wanting to be found. Thereafter discussions of drink, drugs and poverty ensue. The play raises thematic issues that allow for important conversations as well as mature character performances.

Performance matters: The author's note at the start of the play gives an indication of the amount of scope there is for performance. The minimum number of actors required is nine. There are speaking and non-speaking roles with as many gang members as the director sees fit. It is one continuous scene with some lines denoted with a ‘–’ that can be spoken by any one character or groups of characters, so there is an opportunity to allocate lines in order to create a strong choral gang performance.