ATYP (Australian Theatre For Young People) has been operating for decades. It is recognised as one of the most innovative youth theatre programs in the world. They have been residing underneath the Sydney Theatre Company for many years, but as the wharves are under reconstruction, they are performing at the Stables Theatre alongside the Griffin Theatre Company. Soon they will have a brand new 200-seat theatre at Pier 2/3 in Walsh Bay.

Apart from performance seasons, they offer playwriting programs, holiday workshops, weekly workshops, schools’ programs, live-streamed shows, teachers’ resources, scholarships and they also provide opportunities for our future artists all over Australia.

Playwright Michael Andrew Collins won the 2016 ATYP Foundation Commission to write for the 14-17 year old category. He has produced a cleverly constructed play called, IMPENDING EVERYONE. It is written for ten young actors, set in a NSW High School. The theme, Collins says, is about “the fear of what is lurking in our internet histories and meta-data”. Collins also writes in the program notes, “Facebook and Cambridge Analytica have served us a timely reminder of just how much we are potentially giving away. Like the young people in the play, though, I’m not sure if this represents a terrifying reality, or, perhaps, a liberating one”. The play is also enriched by the many conversations Collins had about these themes and dilemmas with young people.

The play opens with a series of naturalistic conversations, all with a common thread. All ten characters have received an unnerving email: ‘This cannot be stopped; your history is impending. Everyone will know tomorrow, by the end of lunch, who you really are.’ They all cope differently, some hoping this is just a Year 12 prank.

All ten characters interact differently, have their own stories and are refreshingly 3-dimensional. The actors interact extremely well together, and are totally believable, thanks to not only the writing, but the direction of Fraser Corfield and the dramaturg skills of Jane FitzGerald.

The result of this is that the audience become involved and empathetic to their various dilemmas. Corfield writes in the program notes, “If the characters appear too relaxed, then we miss the tension that needs to drive the story. If they are too tense and dramatic, then we get weary of the melodrama and stop caring about their plight.” The balance is there and draws the audience in.

The tension in the play mounts, the characters receive the same message – all their internet histories are revealed. The play turns a corner, confrontations begin and the ethical questions that come with opened secrets. Will the exposes prove to be liberating? A difficult question.

The ten young actors are very impressive. They understand their characters and are fearless in their communication. Some actors have had more experience than others, there are powerful performances by Rebecca Burchett, Alexandra Jensen, Apsara Lindeman, Callum McManus and equally fine performances from Amal Dib, Curtis Green, Adam Stepfner, Sasha Rose, Maryam Mulla and Sean Cartwright.

The professional tech team make for a flawless production. The relevancy of the script touches everyone who uses the internet. I hope IMPENDING EVERYONE continues to reach more and more audiences and if you can get along to see it, you’ll be glad you did.

IMPENDING EVERYONE from ATYP [Facebook]  plays the SBW Stables Theatre until July 7th, 2018.