As the birth-given amber flame inside sputters towards its inexorable, inevitable fading, we older folk often turn reflective. Searching for a moral? Not really. If we are old shouldn’t we have that already? Meaning? Perhaps, but of what? The metaphysic? Surely that answer awaits us at the extinguishment. THE TROLLEYS, playing at the Australian Theatre for Young People, burns with a gentle, compelling glow as it softly illuminates a path to reflection for any audience, young or old.

In a dystopian future we are confronted initially with darkness. A figure clutching a waning orangey light in a jar moves towards us. As her light disappears, shockingly so does she. A new figure arrives to lovingly clear away the dust of the departed, then to scurry away. A motley, dirty crew of 6 children wake and cluster to become the protagonists of the story. They call themselves The Trolleys after the way each carries their meagre belongings. Their small society is self-sufficient with clear rules to keep them safe. But they know what happens when the light in their ever-present jar fails.

This play was the winner of the 2014 ATYP Foundation Commission. Written by Sara West who is also an actor of note, she played Liza Minnelli in the recent Peter Allen biopic, this text is designed for 10-13 year old actors and one cannot imagine older performers in the roles. Skilfully created and expertly crafted to be accessible to the pre-teen players, it is mysterious and compelling. The characters are rich with depth and subtext for exploration by the young cast.

And this cast is terrific. Savage Kim is the leader of this ad hoc family and she is played by Scarlett Water as a fierce and decisive young woman who is hiding her jar’s decaying fluorescence from those who rely on her. Unafraid to consult the group or ask advice she turns to Jones Boy, played by Max Mulvenney, who everyone considers to be the brains of the group. Mulvenney does a great job of portraying a boy who struggles to find an inner strength which will eventually empower them all.

Blue, played by Laura Bunting, and River, played by Finbar Clayton are brother and sister and these fine young actors might actually be relatives for all I know. Their rapport and on-stage presence is very real. They negotiate the sibling ups and downs and unsaid affection so well. Also a Trolley member is Phlegm, played by Harry Straw. He is a boy’s boy and when he bemoans the introduction of a new friend to the group with ‘Not more girls!’ the big laugh is not for the line but for the way Straw has brought this character to life. There is fine truth in his portrayal.

Kiri Jenssen plays Lemon, the girl in question, another nicely created character. Jenssen smoothly transports Lemon from the scared urchin with a latent ability to control the light in the jars to the wise and empathetic child of the climax. She is well matched by the compassionate youngest member of the group. As Baby May, Coco Jack Giles is charismatic and Baby May’s bravery and role in resolution of the piece is emotionally portrayed.

This ensemble cast is never less than engaged, even in the more expository passages, and they are enthusiastically alive and responsive to the text. Director Danielle O’Keefe’s hand in guiding her cast to those focused scenes or moving them to take advantage of the large space is also there in the light moments. Under her nurturing, these characters are really funny in places and there are quite a few comic moments to lighten the occasional Lord of the Flies behaviour.

The cast are also supported by Emma Lockhart-Wilson’s warm, shadowy lighting design, Sam Weller’s (Sam  is a  HSC student and the 2015 Fanfare Mentorship winner) unobtrusive, evocative soundscape, and  Mel Liertz’s sparse, deceptively detailed production design.

For me, art and my relationship to contemplative beauty have fed an interior blaze since I was young. And I think these young people might have it too. Watching THE TROLLEYS I was guided to renewed reflection. And I wasn’t alone on that path. We moved forward as one as the mystery of the jars was revealed. My thanks to the cast for the flame of hope which remained in the heart after the lights went down.

Sara West’s THE TROLLEYS plays at ATYP Studio 1 until Saturday November 14. My advice is to get in quick to get tickets as many performances are already sold out.