Kids Nowadays (part three)

...both Grey Matter (APA) and I'd rather be humble than hero (Junction 25) reveal details of the companies' explorations into identity. While the Aberdeen performers, with the help of playwright Stef Smith ponder the physiology of adolescence, the Glaswegians examine the tensions between private and public ambition. Each production has a distinctive aesthetic - Junction 25 draw heavily on the works of Belgian theatre, moving towards abstract choreography and episodic reflections - but share a focus on the experience of young people.

Grey Matter, despite the dream-like staging and flow between scenes and stories, follows several clear plot lines: a young man grapples with his sexuality, an over-achieving student reacts badly to pressure, her 'waster' sister finds a purpose beyond partying. There are no easy conclusions - the script avoids the predictable happy endings - but the narratives are elegantly tied together through one character's discovery of a fact about the teenage brain.

I'd rather..., on the other hand, contrasts modest ambitions (mortgage, a wife et c) against the promise of celebrity. Overshadowed by a video score of juxtaposed images of glamour and fame, the cast mock fashion photography, the cynical svengali who would give them the world, and acknowledge the pressure of social media. Divided cleanly into three stages (each one marked by a procession of the performers to the front of the stage, it makes use of ensemble choreography and monologue to create an impressionistic take on contemporary living.

It's clear that both companies are presenting their findings - the productions are not showcases for individual talent but expressing an ensemble's shared vision (the participation of the adult writers, directors and AV designers is supportive rather than definitive) and stories not usually told on stage are given space and depth. It is here - and not in any claims about the shows being 'professional' in quality - that the real value of youth theatre can be discerned... although any review from outside is forced to make guesses about the process and therefore is deeply compromised...