The Wardrobe by Sam Holcroft

When working in youth theatre, there are so many considerations that need to be taken into account when selecting a project: practical aspects (is there a good-sized cast and will each performer have enough to do?), safeguarding elements (is the content age-appropriate?) and the question of engagement: does this play speak to our performers? A play that has been commissioned specifically to be performed by young people is something that companies will naturally gravitate towards. Sam Holcroft's The Wardrobe is one such play.

The plot and structure of The Wardrobe might initially appear simple, but they are born out of smart concepts with seemingly endless scope. Essentially, it is an extension of the phrase ‘if these walls could talk…’. The twelve (largely standalone) scenes all take place in the interior of a single wardrobe at various points within its history, from 1485 to the present day (-ish – more on this later). Each scene lasts around five minutes and features between one and four performers, who tell small self-contained stories, all featuring characters ages between nine and 18.