Pronoun

Theatre is fantastic when it comments on those areas of society that are rarely explored in other media. In this case, playwright Evan Placey’s new work Pronoun, performed by the West Yorkshire Playhouse Youth Theatre as part of this year’s National Theatre Connections festival, sheds some light on a matter rarely spoken about in our world today.

Pronoun follows the story of Dean, a transgender male attempting to navigate the trials and tribulations of assuming his identity, supported by the ghost of his role model James Dean. The play brings the subject to life, and offers a thought-provoking insight into Dean’s mindset and society’s misunderstood views on what it means to be transgender, along with the emotional fatigue often experienced by those who are transgender.

Placey’s script is executed superbly by the West Yorkshire Playhouse Youth Theatre, who work incredibly well as both individual characters and an ensemble. Beth Knight’s portrayal of Dean is honest, presenting to the audience the image of an oppressed teenager attempting to find his way in the world. The rest of the company’s characters are also warm and honest, from scrutinising doctors to farcically selfish teachers, who provide elements of both seriousness and humour in the piece, which ultimately make it refreshing.

Director Gemma Woffinden’s decision to stage the production in the round makes it much more personal. The audience is given a direct view into Dean’s world, having the opportunity to see close up the emotional responses of the individual characters, and truly feel part of the action. This intimate staging truly conveys the relevance of the piece to the world we live in today, and makes it as thought-provoking as it is engaging.

The sound and lighting also help to illuminate the issues presented in the play in a unique and interesting way. From confidential moments where Dean recognises himself and analyses his own thought processes – where the bright lighting represents the harsh and judgemental world he lives in – to physical sequences depicting the raucous atmosphere at Glastonbury Festival, the lighting helps to transport the audience into the character’s world.

Pronoun in itself is an example of a tightly-knit, well-crafted piece of theatre, but the issues surrounding it make it all the more captivating and interesting. The West Yorkshire Playhouse Youth Theatre’s response to them is honest and mature, and the amount of hard work they have put into presenting Pronoun is incredibly evident. Their sensitive and perceptive approach to creating theatre really shines in this production, and makes them stand out as a well-rounded and solid youth theatre group and, more importantly, an engaging and provocative theatre company.

Pronoun is part of the National Theatre Connections festival, which comes to the West Yorkshire Playhouse this May, and I urge you to see it. It is an honest, touching and relevant piece of contemporary theatre.

Pronoun played at the West Yorkshire Playhouse until 15 March. For more information about the festival, see the National Theatre Connections Festival website.