Theatre Review: Shank, Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation

From the moment the audience entered it was obvious CYTO meant business. Whilst many are pondering on the growing scourge of knife crime, the members of CYTO chose the subject for a play commissioned with funds from the Croydon Youth Service, and the piece by local writer Richard Vincent is observant, perspicacious and salutary, astutely directed by Viv Berry.

The simple set is chairs, forming seats on a tram where the large cast are passengers. An argument brews, voices are raised and four young people run off leaving another youngster dead - stabbed.

The short drama explores different angles. Some passengers are loathe to give statements, for fear of reprisals; the old boy (Richard Gibbons) lamenting the loss of a strict upbringing in 'the good old days', the girl (Tamera Stradis) more concerned about compensation for her bloodied expensive new trainers than the death; the settlers from Sarajevo lamenting the gang warfare they see growing in their adopted country; the gang's violent initiation of the boy who eventually wields the fatal knife; the 'killers' from the tram, running very scared of their actions; and finally the victim's family.

Karson Green's difficult role as the killer received a mature understanding of the need to join the gang in the first place and Sam Crisp created the big, boasting Axle who shrank to a frightened boy under questioning.

Comedy lightened the sober subject with Tony Portsmouth's Ikea Man who wins a two-minute 'free grab' and is returning on the tram with his stuff.

But the heart-breaking impact of the play comes at its close when the cast give out many of the names of youngsters who really suffered this fate, and an unforgettable plea from the dead boy's mother, in which Kayla Meikle, 16, speaks the emotional words written by Richard Vincent with an understanding way beyond her years. The whole cast are to be congratulated on their achievement.

The following short question and answer session revealed the discussions which had shaped the building blocks to enable a youthful cast to create such a meaningful play.

This was the first theatre piece ever to be performed at Loud Tate at Tate Britain, and the Croydon Youth Opportunities Fund are funding free CYTO performances at local schools, colleges and youth centres until November 20.

For more information contact Kathryn Vincent on 020 8655 1098.

Theo Spring

5 stars