Sydney Reviews

Left - Kyle McLeavy. Photo - Alex Vaughan

Tell it Like it Isn’t is teenage angst minus the clichés and was exciting to see, both as a theatre piece that showcases the potential of the HSC individual project and the collective talent at ATYP.

Tell it like it Isn’t was created by the Australian Theatre for Young People by participants of their Fresh Ink program, a developmental opportunity for emerging playwrights aged 18 – 26. Fresh Ink director Lachlan Philpott commissioned twelve emerging Australian writers to create real, relevant and challenging eight-minute monologues about seventeen year olds to be performed by seventeen year olds.

Responding to Philpott’s concern to ‘re-engage writers as storytellers in contemporary culture’, the writers of the Fresh Ink program have delivered a moving, playful and cohesive insight into a group of diverse young people. Despite the playwrights being in the beginning stages of their careers (with the exception of Fresh Ink mentor Vanessa Bates), all created monologues that showed sophistication and an assurance with their craft.

The play is very much of its time, with the actors ironically reciting lines from the pop songs of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry that humorously underline their inanity, and the monologues are heavy with references to iPhones and other Gen Y hallmarks. Despite this, the audience of predominantly older adults appeared to be as affected by the play as I was.

The danger with a performance of unrelated monologues is that it could become uneven or disjointed, and it is to the credit of the actors and directors Philpott and Luke Kerridge that this is not the case. This is in no small part due to the creative use of Adrienn Lord’s effective set design, and the way the actors insouciantly hang off the swings, couches and stairs we have know doubt this is their turf.

Within such a strong ensemble piece, some monologues particularly stood out for their originality and skill. Adam Marks was at turns terrifying and touching as an overwhelmed young father in Mike by Phil Spencer, while Patrick Richards was hilarious as a self loathing teen in Fun in an A cup by Tim Spencer.

The agony and ecstasy of first love was a recurring theme, with a luminous Sophie Irvine shining in her portrayal of unrequited love in Finn O’Branagain’s Pink Fireworks, while Vanessa Bates’s First Light was a fresh take on balcony wooing, brought to life by a tender and convincing Kyle McLeavy.

Tell it Like it Isn’t is a testament to the excellence of ATYP’s programs, and emerging creatives (particularly any Drama students looking for inspiration for their HSC individual projects) should get to the Wharf to enjoy the company’s outstanding first play of the season.


Australian Theatre for Young People presents
Tell it Like it Isn’t
by eleven playwrights from atyp’s Fresh Ink Program

Directors Luke Kerridge, Lachlan Philpott

Venue: atyp Studio 1, The Wharf, Pier 4/5, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay
Dates: 3-19 February 2011
Times: Wed – Sat 7pm, Sun 5pm, Wed & Fri 12.30am
Tickets: $20 full | $17 conc | $15 supporters
Bookings: 02 9270 2400 | www.atyp.com.au