Lose Yourself
****
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. Fri 10-Sat 25 May
Lose Yourself is a distinctly modern play, bursting with issues relevant to now, an incredible way to get a serious message across in a light-hearted and humorous way.
Written by Katherine Chandler and directed by Patricia Logue, Lose Yourself tells the tale of a night out from three different perspectives, all ending up with the same fate. Nate, Yaz and Josh (played by Aaron Anthony, Gabrielle Creevy and Tim Preston respectively), all young teens out to have a good time, get caught up in the night, and before they know it, are in too deep to even try to dig themselves out. The production is set in the present, demonstrating modern and relevant issues that most teenagers currently deal with, emphasising the lessons learnt in a tragi-comic manner.
With most of the action taking place in a nightclub, the stage is set up as so. Filled with bright flashing lights and loud music, it’s a futuristic vibe. The lighting made it clear when there was a change of perspective; even though there was no direct audience participation, the actors were sometimes speaking directly to the audience, not only keeping us engaged but also making us feel a part of the action.
Combining quick changes in perspective, all surrounding the same night, the audience gets a close-up view of how each character views different situations. Nate is a star football player, who lives for girls and booze. His mate Josh is the complete opposite, in love with a girl who doesn’t love him and not a fan of the nightlife scene at all. Yaz, worried about being stuck working in a nail salon all her life is the party type, sometimes taking it too far.
The consequences of the three characters’ actions on that night are clear to the audience, even though they are never actually stated aloud by any of the characters. The use of language is full of modern slang and colloquialisms, but that’s what makes the production so funny and light-hearted.
Lose Yourself is a harsh commentary of society right now. You might assume the play would leave you feeling angry about the world we live in, but it does quite the opposite. Though leaving with a harsh message, the audience comes away with a sense of fulfilment and joy.
That humorous and cutting delivery of its hard edges is what makes Lose Yourself so enjoyable and relevant. It does so in a hugely enjoyable way which will stick with this for a long time.
words Laura Wood
Lose Yourself is at Sherman Theatre until Sat 25 May. More info here