The Trials At Nottingham Playhouse Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Louise Edwards
The Trials is a play, written by Dawn King, based in a dystopian future where climate change has resulted in a damaged earth. There is no fresh air and food is in short supply. As a result the children are putting adults on trial to judge if their past lifestyle choices are responsible for the situation the children find themselves in now.
The community co-production with Mansfield Palace sees 12 teenagers, file into witness boxes at the sides of the audience. Dressed in repurposed coffee sacks, hessian and other fabric offcuts, as (we can assume) fabric would be rationed they take their responsibility seriously.
The first defendant on trial is played by Mark Jardine, an actor with a string of theatre, TV and film credits. He pleads that although he did have three children, a job in consumerist rich advertising and took several flights for work he counters this with the defence that he recycled regularly and had an electric car.
His time runs out and he is led off stage. The curtain rises and the teenager file onto stage for their deliberation. As with the costume, Maria Terry, the designer, utilised the set and props on stage, recycled from previous productions so that only the very minimal is produced for this production thus lowering its carbon footprint.
After selecting a leader, Ren – played by Abi Dring – who volunteers at a tree planting project they get on with the job of deciding if Defendent 1 is guilty or not. Some of the teenagers are more strong minded and very much of the opinion that all “dinosaurs” are guilty and should be sentenced to death. Others see a more balanced view in that they either didn’t know better or that they felt powerless to take action. However there needs to be a majority verdict and there is a time limit pressure. They submit their decision on the ipad and file back into the jury box.
Defendant 2 you think may have a chance, as she is vegan, no children, uses public transport and writes to educate people about the threat of climate change so surely she must be allowed to live?
Defendant 3 turns out to have a secret. She admits she worked for an oil company and admits that her daughter is a much better person that she is. She offers herself up for euthanasia (or execution in other words). Will she receive the same harsh treatment?
Codirected by Omar Khan and Hannah Stone this thought provoking piece of theatre is a bit like 12 Angry Men but against the clock. The acting is superb and the talent of the teenagers shines through – I am sure there is a future Hollywood A lister amongst them.
The show runs for 90 minutes with no interval and is recommended age limit of 13 plus.
Rating: 3.5/5
Tickets cost from £9.50
The Trials is at Nottingham Playhouse until Friday 16 August 2024, for more information or to book tickets visit https://nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/the-trials/ or call the box office on 0115 941 9419
Nottingham Playhouse Wellington Circus NG1 5AF
It is also on at Mansfield Palace Theatre on Saturday 17 August and tickets can be purchased here.