The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival this year attracted over 10,000 children, their teachers and families over the 9-day festival in a programme that spanned circus, comedy, dance, music, storytelling, puppetry and theatre. One highlight from this programme was Protest, the latest play concocted by Edinburgh Makar, Hannah Lavery (read our interview with Hannah here).
Protest is a play written in direct and short, streamlined sentences, appealing to children as they consider life in the playground, out in nature and on the running track. Directed by Natalie Ibu and with input from the National Theatre of Scotland, Protest is a long, hard, serious look at the fundamental things in life that are indeed wrong – racism, lack of regard for the environment, gender inequalities – and the need to challenge the status quo. This is the determination we see in all three girls – Alice, Jade and Chloe – in the play.
Commissioned and co-produced by Fuel, Imaginate and Northern Stage alongside NTS, this is a fun imagining of Hannah’s new play, one that weaves three girl’s tales into one. Those who have the pleasure of getting to see Protest will appreciate the fun, playground-like vibrant set, as well as the movement and language. Hannah’s work is as versatile as impactful, as we witness that her writing for children’s theatre packs a punch with her pen.
Protest | National Theatre of Scotland (nationaltheatrescotland.com)
