*** (3 stars)
“Compassionate”
By an amazing coincidence, or a whacking great piece of serendipity, this show dovetails neatly with the exhibitions at the Parliament that I went to last week. One Hundred Voices leads you on a trail through the ridiculously tortuous system that currently fails to care for the children that are in care in Scotland, during which you hear voiced many of the experiences of children and young people themselves.
Unheard voices, unbroken spirits takes these voices and brings them to life. Both exhibition and show are rightly uncomfortable – it’s outrageous that, in a country which has promised that no child shall grow up feeling unsafe or unloved, these very children are caught up in a system in which they have no control over their lives and where they feel ignored, overlooked and unheard.
The action centres around Daisy, who has long experience of being in the care system, of loving and supporting her fellows, watching them all move on, while herself feeling unsupported and rapidly losing any hope of living up to the promise she showed as a child. Around her are Sienna, Rachael, Lara, Ethan, and her boyfriend Matthew. The adults with whom she interacts are mainly more interested in the system, in maintaining discipline, and punishing unruly behaviour than in attempting to work out quite why Daisy is failing to live up to the promise she showed in previous years. There were points in the action where I could quite cheerfully have given them a piece of my mind – could they not see that all the “bad behaviour” stemmed from deep unhappiness and an inability to cope with all the crap life was flinging at Daisy and her friends?
A tragic incident leaves all Daisy’s friends completely at a loss – but there is hope. They manage to overcome their differences and, in thinking about what Daisy might have wished to see, work towards creating a safe space where young people in care can know they are heard and have a place in which they can safely just be themselves – Daisy’s Chain.
Talia Maysey directed and produced this piece, as well as composing the music. Massive credit to Lauren Boyle who, in writing the story of Daisy, gave a voice to herself and all the other children and young people who are care-experienced. As she says, nobody understands the care system like the kids in care do. Writing this show, it’s not just helped me, it has helped so many others to share their stories as well.
It’s hard to talk about your own personal stories, especially when there’s not much knowledge surrounding it. For so long, I felt like my voice didn’t matter. This musical is helping me realise, there are people who do want to listen, do want to help make a change.
There’s a lot of heartfelt emotion in this piece, with songs like When the snow still felt like magic; Still waiting for a miracle; Giving up on me – all heartbreaking to listen to. The show is double cast, and I can only imagine the effort that has gone into helping all the young cast navigate the challenges of performing on stage, let alone for their first time at the Fringe. Not everything is perfect, but it’s all deeply felt. Solo performing is scary, and it’s obvious that having company on stage makes things easier, but I’m well impressed with the way everyone kept going no matter what – and with no musicians on stage or conductor to help them along the way.
I hope that people who come to this show will be more compassionate towards children and young people who are in care and, if they can, do something to make their lives better. It’s easy to criticise: it’s much harder to care, and to want to make a difference. Let’s let Lauren/ Daisy have the final word.
“A world where every kid feels seen” is the heart of the musical and by you coming today, it has helped us feel seen. Thank you.
Unheard Voices, Unbroken Spirits, The Fringe, Gilded Balloon Patter House, Venue 24 runs until 31st August for more information go to: Unheard Voices, Unbroken Spirits | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
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