KIDS WITH A KICK IN THEM
There’s been an interlockof themes in theatre recently: DEAR ENGLAND on the NT displaying Gareth Southgate’s work in fostering the openness and emotional expression of topflight footballers (43% of whom are of black heritage and most of working class). Meanwhile we had FOR BLACK BOYS brilliantly educating the remainder of us in what it’s wish to be a lad of African heritage in a white majority tradition , and the way annoyingly you’re seen, your good heat hoodie always recognized with villainy.
And now, after promoting out on the Bush, the most recent glitzy in-the-round theatre welcomes Tyrrell Williams’ brief and vigorous three-hander concerning the teenage seedcorn of prime soccer: three lads kicking round on a Pitch close to the Elephant in Southwark whereas it – and each little bit of their acquainted ‘endz’ – is beneath the shadow of destructions ,rehousings and concrete renewal. And like Dear England and For Black Boys, it’s much less concerning the intricacies and triumphs of soccer – and even society – than about male teenage masculinity. It’s about vigour and banter and ambition and the hidden tenderness of boys, and the dear fragility of friendship.
Daniel Bailey’s route – and his solid – are vigorous, expert and always thrilling. Pitchside, we watch Omz and Bilal and Joey earlier than the beginning wandering in foe kickabouts, header teicks and keepy-uppy to the sound of deafening rap. Under approach we watch them bantering, teasing (particularly Joey ), exhibiting off magnificently and rising more and more on edge concerning the coming trials fot the QPR under-18s. The three characters are delicately delineated: Kedar Williams-Stirling is Bilal, a considerate ironic tease, FRancis Lovehall is Omz, who takes care of his Grandad (anxious cellphone name about one thing improper with the boiler swap) and Emeka Sesay is tall, sturdy, sweet-natured Joey who all the time will get put in objective on their follow periods on the beloved Red Pitch.
Occasional surreal sequences of lights and roaring crowd sounds emphasise their particular person goals – Joey’s save in objective memorable, the others capturing snd scoring in wonderful goals. Edges of concern emerge concerning the ‘Endz” , the neighbourhood, a favourite chicken shop closing snd others boarded up, threats of family moves (“where IS Kent?” an at one point a horrified reaction to the idea of ending up far away near Liverpool St statin – “YOu’ll come again? To pink pitch?”) .
It’s a chimera, the soccer fortune-seeking. Joey at one level lectures all of them about having a plan B in the event that they don’t turn out to be Premiership gamers: he’s doing enterprise research, Bilal is a maths whiz, Omz into artwork and design. But while you’re barely seventeen you don’t suppose that approach .
Its spectacular to observe usually, choreographed with reckless balletic vigour – we regularly gasp – and the three are immensely likeable. There are loads of laughs, although the argot is robust and anybody who doesn’t hang around with south-London property teenagers a lot will miss some traces. The drama itself is gradual to construct, however does so, to a terrifyingly graphic collision and battle (I’m glad to see there are two understudies, this 90-minute efficiency as traumatic as a match). We await the results of the trials alongside them, share moments of regret (“Shouldna gone to that party” “You’re SUPPOSED to have fun when you’re young!”) .
When Joey turns up for a farewell recreation and says to the others, who weren’t chosen, “If it wasn’t for you, man, I wouldn”t have gotten in”. No dishonest machismo: formally untrained, he had instructed the stunned selectors “I kicked ball with my boys”. Lump within the throat.
sohoplace.org to 10 May
ranking 4
