Review: The Animals at Ilkley Playhouse
Ten teenagers in hoodies - hoods up obviously - enter a black box space and sit down heavily. One of them is crying and the others slowly reveal their faces and transform into birds, snakes, mammals which creep, crawl and spread their wings. The atmosphere they create is electrifying.
The Animals, being presented at Ilkley Playhouse’s Wildman Theatre this week, is a National Theatre Connections play for youth groups and is set in Redhill Youth Custody Secure unit - a prison for young people. A new trainee teacher has arrived to attempt to get the students to be more reflective by teaching them philosophy and she has quite the task on her hands.
The students are of course, victims of their circumstances. All of them have committed crimes, most of them regret it and each has a back story which would explain how they’ve arrived at Redhill. This is a powerfully raw portrayal of life in the youth custody system and it’s not always comfortable watching but the total commitment shown by all the actors is incredibly compelling.
Central to the piece is the most disaffected of all the students - Geraldine or ‘Gee’ played with total conviction by Jane Noble. Her anger is at fever pitch from the beginning and throughout. She epitomises the ‘impossible to reach’ pupil, that no amount of nurture, care and time can affect, with issues that run too deep to repair. The scene between her and the late arriving object of her fury, Jay (Florence Ameight), is pivotal and stirs deeply.
Attempting to break through is Sam, the student teacher and Orla Clossick is outstanding in this role. Her sophisticated and assured performance belies her years making her a totally credible compassionate tutor, determined to make a difference.
The ensemble of teenage inmates all have their demons and convey their struggles with confidence and conviction. The directing team of Andrew Leggott, Lisa Debney and Eliza Wilson has ensured that each of the actors gives credence to their roles. They are beautifully choreographed and confident, giving their characters depth, even in this short piece. Bravo Ilkley Playhouse Greenroom.
There are two more performances on 6th and 7th March.
