Letter of the week

EVER wondered where you should be on a Thursday evening in early April?

The West End's lights may sparkle, but the true stars were on the stage at the reopened Seagull Theatre.

When I first heard about the play Consequences, by the Lateral Artistes, I was intrigued by the prospect of teenagers playing out teenage life from their own unique perspective. The stage was small but the setting was perfect and intimate as the group, all from Kirkley High School, set about weaving their tales of teenage angst in the 21st century.

The standard of acting was superb as the lives of a group of teenagers were played out in front of a packed audience.

Issues of loss, bereavement, drug abuse, relationships and gang culture were all explored in the all too short 90 minutes.

Each act led to a range of consequences that would impact on the lives of each character like ripples on a pond, eg Catherine…unwanted, a troubled childhood, descended into a world of drugs, peer pressure and unstable relationships eventually leading to the suicide of her lover and unplanned birth of her child. Each character took you on a personal journey, cleverly updated throughout the play with some surprising conclusions at the end; a real emotional rollercoaster ride.

Of course there was another triumph. Little gems like this play would never have reached their audience had the Seagull been closed as planned. To give this group of 15/16-year-olds the chance to show what they can do is the most amazing learning experience possible and they rose superbly to the challenge.

The next time anyone condemns Lowestoft for its lack of entertainment or activities for teenagers, can I point you in the direction of the Seagull Theatre and the Lateral Artistes.

ANDY ROLLINGS

Laurel Road

Lowestoft

This wins our Letter of the Week Award and the writer will receive a bouquet courtesy of Sansom's Florists.