Theatre

Horror for young people

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INTO THE DARK King's Theatre. Edinburgh, Thu 23—Sat 25 Sep, then touring.

Visible Fictions has long walked a trembling tightrope, constantly running the risk of being seen as the Robin character to theatre proper’s all conquering Batman. Simply because whisper it now - it embraces ‘young people’s’ theatre: hardly the worst crime in the world but one that makes categorisation a little difficult, particularly regarding the audience it wants to attract. ‘It’s the great debate,‘ acknowledges a laughing Douglas Irvine, director of the company’s latest play, Into the Dark. ‘But those that really get to know the company’s work know that this is theatre for everyone, regardless of age. If theatre isn’t trying to push the artistic boundaries then it’s not good theatre. We try and do that all the time. It’s about making the whole theatre experience inclusive, making it accessible theatre, tapping into the adult in the child and child in the adult, if you like.’

Certainly, there’s nothing childlike about Into the Dark’s script, penned by Donald Mcleary, a regular contributor to radio and TV, including The Karen Dunbar Show and Chewin’ the Fat. It’s set in a wood, where a bunch of working-class kids become embroiled in a type of supernatural horror when something one of them does puts all their futures in jeopardy. ‘I really liked Donald’s idea of looking at type,’ says Irvine. ‘In the play this particular group have a real co-dependency. I want to look at that, play with it and really bring out the underlying humour of the piece.’

And the director’s not short on making a social statement along the way. ‘By making this sort of work for, and with, young people we’re saying, “We take you seriously". We’re saying, “We value you”. If you value people when they’re young they grow up and value each other in turn. That can only help society on the whole, right?’ All hail the revolution. (Anna Millar)

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DAVID HUGHES

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JEKYLL 'AND HYDE «o Howden Park Centre. Livingston. until Sat 25 Sep. then touring.

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