Review: TEENAGE TRILOGY, Tramway, Glasgow

Teenage Trilogy is a theatre experience in three parts. At 7pm the doors are opened for an installation about being a teenager. The artwork is quite striking but there wasn't really much of an explanation of what we were looking at.

The main part of the evening is the theatrical performance. Four performers emerge from a pile of mattresses and recite anecdotes about being a teenager. These were funny and relatable but it was a pity they were quite short.

Teenage Trilogy is primarily a dance piece and the movement has been well executed. The mattresses are moved around the stage throughout the performance to build different structures and the dancers are well in sync. Unfortunately, it seemed like the style was favoured over any kind of substance.

There were video clips and sound bites from teenagers all over the world about how they felt about being a teenager but nothing really went anywhere. The performers list how they think the world sees them- lazy; moody; disrespectful; vulnerable; learning about sex from the internet- but there is no actual comment made on any of these issues.

The show was billed as something for the whole family but the children in the audience were definitely getting restless as the narrative was too clunky to follow.

Teenage Trilogy finishes off with a silent disco which was the highlight of the piece and had everybody from children to grandparents involved. The performance was at its strongest with its use of live music and real anecdotes from teenagers.

Teenage Trilogy is at Tramway, Glasgow until Sunday 11th February.

Photo credit: Maria Falconer

To post a comment, you must register and login.