Adelaide Fringe

Fringe Review: Transition

As adults, we tend to forget that it can be a troubling time for adolescents – in particular newly coming-of-age thirteen year olds.

Presented by Prospect Theatre for Young People
Reviewed 4 March 2016

As adults, we tend to forget that it can be a troubling time for adolescents – in particular newly coming-of-age thirteen year olds. Not only do they have to handle the pressure of being more than a child but not quite an adult, but there is the huge rite of passage of transitioning from Year 7 to Year 8. This usually means a new school (sometimes), always new rules, leaving old friends and trying to make new ones. A teenager may even have to deal with moving from a co-ed Primary School to a same-sex Secondary School (as this reviewer had to in his far-flung adolescence).

The young performers of the Prospect Theatre For Young People, under the direction and tutelage of the company’s founder, Margaret Steven, have workshopped their ideas of the problems of travelling into the unknown, resulting in Transition.

This clever play tells two tales: one of modern day students having to deal with the trials and terrors of starting Year 8 (and that dreaded word “Puberty”); and one set in ‘Another Time and Place’ – the journey of young Initiates looking to be Graduates (think The Hunger GamesThe Maze Runner etc.). These two tales intertwine and interconnect from time to time making staging challenging for the young actors.

It is a challenge that they all handle very well. What impresses about this cast is their very clear understanding of stage craft. There is no awkward fidgeting or shuffling from any of the cast and projection is spot-on. Where did Steven find teenagers that don’t mumble??

This stage craft carries on to backstage behaviour as well. With no less than thirteen teens, and quite a few costume changes, there is absolutely NO noise!

The cast of James Burgess, Chelsea Bishop, Jalian Grummet, Ryan Linton-Brown, Tia Mavropoulos, Nicola Schooley, Samoda Silva, Daniel Tune, Jory Dunn, Abbey Hilder, Ella Prowe, Laura Tibbets, and Olivia Webb all work well individually and as a team. with their enthusiasm and belief in what they are saying and doing flowing over infectiously to the audience.

This is definitely a company worth watching out for in the future.

Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Twitter: @briangods

Rating (out of 5): 3.5

Venue: Holden Street Theatres 34 Holden Street, Hindmarsh
Season: Ended

 

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