Edinburgh Fringe 2024
Everything Something Nothing
First Byte Theatre
Genre: Devised, New Writing, Youth Theatre
Venue: The Space @ Niddry St
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
Everything Something Nothing is a striking example of the power of youth theatre to address critical social issues with honesty and creativity. The performances are convincing and powerful, with each cast member bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. The play explores the theme of adults who don’t listen when concerns are raised, and the devastating consequences that can follow.
Review
Burnley Youth Theatre’s Everything Something Nothing is a powerful and thought-provoking production from Firstbyte, their talented teen group. This ensemble of seven emerging artists from Burnley has crafted a show that delves into the complex and often harsh realities faced by young people in schools today. The play tackles challenging themes such as sexual assault, peer pressure, and the struggle to be heard in a world filled with constant noise, where truth is often obscured.
The play is set in a school where everything appears perfect on the surface, beginning with a group of students summoned to the Head Teacher’s office after a party goes horribly wrong. The incident involves Golden, the school’s head boy, who has been struck over the head with a bottle. Intriguingly, Golden never appears on stage, allowing the audience to build their own image of him based on the varying and often contradictory perspectives of the other characters.
As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that Golden’s reputation as the perfect student is far from accurate. The students’ testimonies gradually reveal a much darker and more complex picture of who he really was, effectively unraveling the events of that night as layers of Golden’s true nature are exposed.
One of the play’s strengths lies in its structure, with the narrative shifting seamlessly between scenes at the party, tense moments of waiting to speak with Mr. Banks, the teacher, and the students’ reflections on their interactions with Golden. Director Hannah Kay’s decision to keep the stage simple, with no set or props, works brilliantly. The shifts between the party and school, and between group and individual scenes, are marked by perfectly timed sound and lighting cues, allowing the focus to remain firmly on the performances and the story.
The performances are convincing and powerful, with each cast member bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. As the narrative progresses, the characters grow, and their relationships fracture as more is revealed about Golden. The play explores the theme of adults who don’t listen when concerns are raised, and the devastating consequences that can follow.
This is an excellent piece of new work that showcases the considerable talent within Burnley Youth Theatre. The strong character development, sharp scene transitions, and the powerful exploration of important themes make it a must-see. This production tackles difficult topics with maturity and insight, leaving a lasting impact on its audience.
In conclusion, Everything Something Nothing is a striking example of the power of youth theatre to address critical social issues with honesty and creativity. Burnley Youth Theatre’s Firstbyte group has created something truly special, and this production is a testament to their talent and dedication.
