In May, 2010 I went to a Minor League Baseball game in Lexington, Kentucky. The first pitch was at 3.00pm which got me wondering who would be there at that time on a Wednesday. The answer was provided before we had even got to the gate by the number of yellow school buses in the car park. Apart from my friend and me, the rest of the spectators were in their early teens except for several teachers. I had a feeling of déjà vu on Thursday when I went to Leeds Playhouse for the 1.00pm matinee to see Run, Rebel, as there was a large party of secondary school pupils occupying almost all of the seats.
I mention the ball game because I was astounded by the way in which the teachers seemed to have a great repartee with the students and the object of the exercise, other than to cheer on Lexington Legend and drink as much soda as possible, appeared to be to teach them how to behave in a public place. We were in a separate part of the ground, but, when our paths crossed, we were given priority and called sir and ma’am, they could not have been more polite. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the juveniles present at the theatre. They were fine when the show was on, apart from a couple of wolf whistles when a couple of characters kissed, and the usual sweet wrapper rustling, but in the interval it was mayhem. Those who went out were all over the place although, it must be said that when they were in my vicinity they did call a truce on their play fighting and general antics, Back in the auditorium things were no better, despite there being several adults in attendance who seemed quite happy with the situation, except for one male teacher who laid down the law when he returned for the second act, and a blonde woman who achieved the same result through charm.
Don’t get me wrong, I was a little swine when their age, but we were always taught to be aware of others as we were not the only people occupying the planet, so should behave appropriately.
Asha Kingsley as Surinder, Pushpinder Chani as Harbans and Jessica Kaur as Amber.
Now I have got that out of the way, I will get to the play, which was excellent. At just over two hours long, including the interval, I was worried that boredom might set in with the kids towards the end, but it had everyone wrapt until the very end.
The story, adapted from her own novel by Manjeet Manna and directed by Tessa Walker, centred around a secondary schoolgirl named Amber, who lived with her parents, Surinder and Harbans. Her elder sister, Ruby, had left home to live with her boyfriend, a more progressive thinker, after an altercation with her father, but regularly came back to visit her mother. She had two schoolfriends, Tara and David, who, when the action began, had just returned from holiday together.
Amber’s family were Punjabi which accentuated the dire situation she faced due to her father’s attitude to girls and women, whose only role in life should be to marry and be a subservient wife. To this end, the distaff side were under constant coercive control with the threat of extreme violence, or even death, should they disobey his rules. To accentuate the promise of retribution was the way he always seemed to know when the women had transgressed. He also used the legend that the man across the road, who spent his days tending roses, had murdered his daughter and he could get him to replicate the action on them.
The cast: Heather Forster, in background, Pushpinder Chani, Simian Kular, Jessica Kaur, Kiran Raywilliams and Asha Kingsley.
The problem was that Amber had a special gift in that she was a brilliant runner and was picked to represent the school in a prestigious athletics competition which could have led to her qualifying for the National Finals and possibly an Olympic spot.
Harbans, the father, was unemployed spending most of his time drinking, only coming home for his dinner in the evening which had to be prepared by Surinder, his wife, and Amber. This, after Surinder had worked a twelve-hour shift at the local dying factory. He even drank just before attending an interview at the JobCentre to appeal against his benefits being cut his breath noticeably smelling of alcohol. Neither parent spoke English so the daughters, mainly Amber, had to translate.
School was the only sanctuary available to Amber, but even there she was becoming stressed because she knew her father would not give permission for her to run in the competition. There was also a jealousy building up as she was in love with David, but Tara spent a lot of time with him and the school vamp, Beena, was making advances in his direction.
The history teacher began a series of lessons about Revolution and this led Amber to contemplate an uprising against her father. Surprisingly, Surinder was becoming disillusioned with the situation, mainly because Harbans had begun to hit her, and she asked Amber to teach her English, which she began to do. Ruby joined the insurgency and they agreed to resist the tyranny of the home regime.
Asha Kingsley as Surinder, Jessica Kaur as Amber and Simian Kular, Ruby. Forming a resistance group.
In one pivotal scene, Amber hit Beena in a fit of jealous rage and Tara and David, having witnessed this, point out that Amber is taking on the characteristics of her father. This removed the scales from her eyes and made her more determined to end the oppression in order to free herself and her family.
Fortunately all worked out well with Harbans proving to be all bluster when he was confronted and he changed his ways, becoming more tolerant, after confessing his insecurities instilled by the traumas during his childhood. Amber takes part in the athletics competition and, not only wins the race, but the love of David.
The cast in celebratory mood. Kiran Raywilliams, Asha Kingsley, Pushpinder Chani, Simian Kular and Heather Forster.
It sounds schmaltzy, and on the surface it was, but the way in which the denouement was handled was so sensitive that it drew gasps and cheers from the audience, and, it must be said, the odd tear from this writer.
The whole production was brilliantly executed. The six actors played multiple roles on a set which was transformed into becoming several locations with the minimal movement of props. A back projection accentuated the various feelings of doom, elation and stages between. The music was a mix of western and Punjabi, again, expertly used.
I can highly recommend this play as, although aimed at young adults by Pilot Theatre, is more of a fable and can be interpreted on different levels, so is more than suitable for we older teenagers! It is also applicable to all families throughout the world where domestic abuse is being practised. I am just so pleased that school has been shown as being a good place as, after showing the audience how to organise a revolution, I would otherwise fear for the teachers on Friday.
Run, Rebel is at Leeds Playhouse until 26th October when it continues its tour at The Lowry 29th October to 2nd November, and then Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh from 7th to 9th November. For full details of this play and other information about Pilot Theatre, please go to https://pilot-theatre.com/
To see what is on at Leeds Playhouse it is https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/whats-on/
All photographs by Pamela Raith
Tyke It To The Limit 