Not living the dream: Ashden Oke (PR agent) and Belinda Fenty (Emma). Photo credit: Camilla Greenwell
Play: Changing State
Theatre: Hen & Chickens Theatre
Playwright: Tian Glasgow
Director: Tian Glasgow
Review by Esha Chaman
Tian Glasgow’s coming-of-age play is indisputably relevant, daring and triumphant in tone, focusing on the frustrations of a disaffected generation struck hardest by the recession. Changing State urges the audience to hold up a mirror to our society and takes a hard look at the disparaging situation facing Britain’s young adults today.
Despite it being 2019, the play’s narrative is frighteningly unchanged. Set in inner city London, we meet four young adults struggling to realise their future ambitions against the all too familiar socio-political obstacles, from unemployment, prejudice and teenage pregnancy to the housing crisis.
These burdens are blighting the lives of Emma (Belinda Fenty), Stephen (Michael Robinson), Sarah (Kirsten Moore) and Tyrone (Ashden B. Oke).
Their four lives run parallel as they each grapple with life issues beyond their control. Tyrone battles against the bureaucratic inadequacies of the local council’s inability to process an urgent rehousing application after his younger sister falls ill from household mould while 17 year old Sarah is left with immense guilt after deciding to have an abortion.
Stephen, the eldest of four, resorts to drug-dealing to generate a substantial income rather than pursuing a career with his law degree. And despite her low self-esteem, Emma progresses through a talent show to help materialise her dream of becoming a folk singer.
Bleak lives: Michael Robinson (Stephen) and Ashden Oke (Tyrone). Photo credit: Camilla Greenwell
As the troubled quartet become trapped in a cycle of hopelessness, one theme is clear: to hope is a “loser’s game”. Although Tyrone’s whistleblowing exposes the council’s shortcomings in rehousing his family, Sarah realises that despite her youth and poverty, she wants to be a mother. But tragedy strikes the quartet when one of them is murdered.
Despite being set four years in the future, it is difficult to disentangle the tribulations that confront the youthful quartet from the dystopic reality of the present. The play contains a heady mix of contemporary issues and deeply criticises the oppressive position young adults in British society find themselves in.
Glasgow scores a hat trick as the producer, writer and director. His compelling dialogue and storytelling are highly commendable. The play is peppered with statistics and quotes that punctuate the transitions from scene to scene which reinforce Glasgow’s critique of income support, institutional racism and the lack of social mobility.
The play masterfully portrays the crisis of confidence in how young people internalise negative self perceptions as “losers”, “losing”, and being “lost”. The actors give great performances and some play multiple roles. Michael Robinson is standout as Stephen, as he effortlessly flits between self-assured drug-dealer to Sarah’s caring imprisoned father.
Belinda Fenty delivers a sensitive portrayal of Emma’s low self-esteem, while Kirsten Moore is indomitable as Sarah. You can’t help but feel frustrated for Tyrone whose admirable fortitude is brought to life by Ashden B. Oke.
A stylised performance piece with great monologues and strong direction, Changing State is fiercely topical with a message that’s too important to miss.
Changing state is at Hen & Chickens Theatre until Saturday 14 February 2015.