Hi MLE!
As you know, we love the Unicorn Theatre and go see their performances quite regularly. Well, last night we saw the Hamilton Complex, and it was probably one of the ‘edgiest’ shows we have ever seen at the Unicorn - or anywhere! Absolutely loved it. It is a new production by HETPALEIS, one of Belgium’s leading theatres for young people, and was presented here in London as part of LIFT 2016 (London International Festival of Theatre). It has received a lot of acclaim, and I can see why.
Thirteen girls with names like Charity, Prudence and Destiny sing, tell horror stories, rebel, scream and flirt in this chaotic, hilarious and shocking show (the woman next to me was so shocked I don’t think she realised she had her hand over her mouth the entire show). Sometimes they act like themselves, others, children, or adults. The overlying theme seems to be the somewhat awkward balance between youthful innocence and adult sexuality - a reality that is, I’m sure, rather unsettling for many.
It got me thinking of a number of things. The girls were all the same age, but some where twice as big as the others, and I was reminded of how the body grows and changes as it enters puberty. It made me angry to see these girls be so irresponsible and self-harming. It made me proud to see how strong and independent they are. It made me laugh at how carefree and fun they are too. A big mix of everything, and at the end reminded me of what it was like for me when I was 13.
It is on until Saturday July 2nd, I’d recommend it to anyone here in London. You can get tickets and see the trailer at
the Unicorn site.
Suzan xx
