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When was the final time you noticed a children’ present primarily based on a Kafka story? Never, proper? Well right here’s your likelihood! The Trial of Josie Okay is a surreal however comedian manufacturing for ages 9-13, and it’s a daring, spectacular programming alternative. Anything primarily based on Kafka’s The Trial dangers being a bit darkish: he isn’t identified for his cheery disposition. However, author Katie Hims not solely manages to keep away from this, however creates an unique script with nice enjoyable, heat humour and compassion. It cleverly articulates tough points confronted by younger folks, together with grief, unrecognised guilt and nervousness, giving them…
Rating
Excellent
A daring, bewildering however finally uplifting story that innovatively articulates the unseen stresses and nervousness of childhood.
When was the final time you noticed a children’ present primarily based on a Kafka story? Never, proper? Well right here’s your likelihood! The Trial of Josie Okay is a surreal however comedian manufacturing for ages 9-13, and it’s a daring, spectacular programming alternative.
Anything primarily based on Kafka’s The Trial dangers being a bit darkish: he isn’t identified for his cheery disposition. However, author Katie Hims not solely manages to keep away from this, however creates an unique script with nice enjoyable, heat humour and compassion. It cleverly articulates tough points confronted by younger folks, together with grief, unrecognised guilt and nervousness, giving them visibility and house, and fuelling post-show dialog. But it additionally offers an upbeat and entertaining stability.
Josie Okay likes a dance, hanging along with her mate Becca (Jadie Rose Hobson) and cake. Especially cake. And she carries a small plastic dinosaur along with her all over the place. One day she is knowledgeable that she is on trial and should attend a number of interviews with an unnamed bureaucrat. She by no means learns what she is accused of, or what the outcome may be if she’s discovered responsible. It’s a totally absurd, relentlessly worrying state of affairs.
Nkhanise Phiri is vibrantly charismatic as Josie Okay, completely nailing the spirit of a twelve year-old. Her flawless efficiency is enjoyable, clever and decided, and she or he deftly manages a decline into deep misery and out once more. Her dynamic vitality drives the storyline, forging a path by the bizarre, elusive setting of Josie’s dilemma.
Tom Moores is splendidly forged because the humourless Bureaucrat who makes Josie soar by pointless hoops. It’s a tough ask to show this character into somebody with compassion come the top, however he pulls it off convincingly. Equally gifted is Hobson as Becca, who anchors the wild nonsense to actuality along with her genial, down-to-earth strategy.
The script is well-written and humorous, drawing on Kafka’s distinctive fashion to evoke a way of bewilderment and confusion. It explores and identifies the usually unseen stresses on kids, immersing the viewers in an setting that enacts them in order that they share an area with Josie Okay and really feel her nervousness. But it then offers humour, custard pies and scones to diffuse and reframe them. Josie Okay’s life pressures impression her psychological well being, however importantly she finds help by friendship. Ultimately there may be constructive uplift on the finish of the play and an empowering message of risk.
Rose Revitt’s muted pastel set initially appears easy, however proves to be advanced and fascinating. Doors and flaps pop open unexpectedly, and all of the whereas the clock is current, generally seen, usually ticking, replicating the stress Josie Okay feels beneath. Great sound design from Beth Duke underscores the relentlessness, pressure and downright stupidity of the trial.
Some of Hims’ observations are fantastically incisive: the Ministry affords a wellbeing workplace however clearly it’s the system that makes it wanted, so it’s a poisonous cycle. Important questions for dialogue are raised: If you’ll be able to’t or gained’t discuss to oldsters, the place do you go? If somebody is making you do issues you’re sad with how do you get it to cease?
Child psychological well being points are a sizzling subject post-pandemic, so it’s an necessary time for this present to be staged. Becca has an exquisite line that cuts by all of the bureaucratic nonsense when she declares “You can’t tell a twelve year old to stop hoping” and it’s this enabling readability that’s wanted for issues to alter. The manufacturing affords a welcome understanding for the younger viewers that now could be the time to shake off their issues and stay their greatest lives, hanging with their mates, treasuring the little issues, and being the perfect you you might be.
Written by: Katie Hims
Directed by: Leigh Toney
Designed by: Rose Revitt
Movement Direction by: Sundeep Saini
Lighting Design by: Elliot Griggs
Music & Sound Design by: Beth Duke
The Trial of Josie Okay is geared toward ages 9-13. It runs till Sunday 19 February on the Unicorn Theatre. Further info and bookings might be discovered right here.
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