Kings Cross Theatre (KXT) will host the world premiere of Manifesto Theatre Company’s compelling exploration of life in the 21st century, YOUTH AND DESTINATION.
Developed in partnership with KXT over three years, the play is an episodic dreamscape play that delves into the complexities and contradictions of being human in the modern world, told from the perspectives of younger generations.
The Guide had the chance to chat with Writer/ Director James Raggatt when he stepped out of the rehearsal room to take our call.
SAG: So the play is about the confusion of the modern world. It took 3 years of collaboration to get to this point. Did it begin in long-term obsession or was there a spark?
James: I would have to say it’s a long-term thing. I wrote a poem when I was about 21 and when I read it again a few years ago I thought that would make a good piece of theatre. It’s pretty much been in workshop since then.
SAG: There’s over 60 scenes … is it a long one?
James: It should run about 60-70 minutes, I have my director’s hat on. I write as a director and I want to gather large sets of diverse ideas so that it’s the ideas living as their own ideology rather than as narrative on the stage. It’s not a long sit but I would say it’s a very eclectic sit.
SAG: Should we bring a drink with us from the bar downstairs … will it be confronting?
James: Nooo. But I think the essence of the show is that it taps into the complexity of what it is to live in this century and the vastness of the social and cultural issues we are facing. It’s not confronting in that sense but we are trying to tap into the overwhelming nature of what that is and to really provoke thought … a consideration of what those things are.
SAG: Are we following any characters or are the scenes stand-alone?
James: No everything stands alone in the text. The scenes leap around and the audience may not be sure what is coming next because we very much want it to be this collection of puzzle pieces that will eventually fit a whole. It’s definitely likely that audience might see connections, because that’s just what happens on stage, but the way it is put together, each scene is its own world. Every time we enter a new scene, it’s a totally new relationship, a totally new set of characters.
SAG: Your media release says gentle and adventurous… can you explain?
James: It comes with a very humanistic bent and, I think, a quite comforting way given the discordant nature of the context that it is talking about. We didn’t want this to be an in-your-face look at the dark things of the world. We didn’t want it to be painful for the audience because there is often, I find, touches of humour and touches of collective experience that provide a means of understanding and getting through parts of what it is to be a human being.
We have really tried to create a theatrical experience that allows the audience to embrace the difficulties that we are talking about and taking them on … that we can understand and share together and progress through as a collective group together.
SAG: Speaking of a collective group, that’s a big cast, how has the rehearsal process changed your script?
James: It’s really interesting. One of the joys is that the cast have been involved with the development of the script in some form over the past 3 years. Almost every single one of them. So there’s an investment and understanding of what the development of the script has been. And because of the nature of the play, because we are not too concerned with the development of character, I have tried to be very fluid with the script… taking on their responses so they are instrumental in how each moment gets structured.
SAG: It certainly sounds like an thought-provoking watch. Time I let you get back in the room but, just before we go, is there anything else you would like our readers to know?
James: It’s been really interesting talking about this play and trying to explain what audiences can expect from it. It has a unique bent to it. It probably goes back to what we were talking about previously … about it being inviting. That the show is meant to invite conversation, inspire thought and discussion around the things that it is talking about. Something to be shared and communalized.
Featuring over sixty scenes, the show is a gentle and adventurous look at things large and small, acute and obtuse, that we face in this century. YOUTH AND DESTINATION is the first new work from a dynamic young team that includes writer/director James Raggatt (ATYP Spring Awakening), lighting designer Martin Kinnane (Spiegelworld), and set designer Kyle Jonsson (The Chapel Perilous). With a large cast ... Jack Angwin, Georgia Blizzard, Gloria Bose, Maree Cole, Julia Christensen, Skyler Ellis, Bardiya McKinnon, Alex Malone, Nikita Waldron, Ross Walker.
YOUTH AND DESTINATION, Manifesto Theatre Company [Facebook] will play at Kings Cross Theatre [Facebook] 27th April to 12th May.