Protest play at Mareel to offer ‘introduction to activism’

A PLAY which follows the lives of three young girls as they learn to use their voices and take a stand against injustices in their community is being held at Mareel in Lerwick tonight (Tuesday).

Protest, which is aimed at young people aged eight and up as well as their grown-ups, is described as an “important introduction to activism for all.”

The touring production is being put on by producers Fuel, Imaginate and Northern Stage in association with National Theatre of Scotland.

It has been directed by Hannah Lavery and features Tamara Fairbairn (The Moors), Esmé Kingdom and Kirsty MacLaren (The Crown, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour).

Protest follows the story of Alice, Jade and Chloe. Running is Alice’s happy place – she is the best runner at her school but is struggling to prove her worth.

Jade is slowly coming to realise that prejudices can be found everywhere, even in the most surprising places. Realising that her education is ill-equipped to encompass her own history and heritage, and taunted by bullies at school, she knows it is time to tell her own story.

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Meanwhile, litter is piling up in the local forest, and all over the world an environmental crisis is looming. Chloe is determined to make a change, starting with the town. The three girls prepare to stand up for what they believe in despite the injustices stacked against them.

Lavery said: “It felt important to write a play for young people which offered hope. We are living in such tumultuous times that can leave us all and especially young people with a sense that we have no agency to inspire and create change.

“So, I wanted to celebrate those young people who within their local communities, within their schools, families and friendship groups are working to make their world a better and fairer place for us all.”

Tickets for Protest at Mareel tonight at 7.30pm can be bought online. A showing for schools is scheduled to take place earlier in the day.