Review: CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT at Southwark Playhouse Borough

With cultural references a-plenty and a soundtrack of hummable tunes and recognisable dance floor faves, Lindsay (played by Phillips herself) lives with her father Terry (Gareth Radcliffe) and spends her school exams year developing a love for clubbing with her best mate Jen (Charlotte Brown) while embracing a hedonistic appreciation for snogging guys (for Zombie shots) and shagging in toilet cubicles and alleyways. The question is, as a young woman, does she merely crave sex or is she yearning for a more meaningful intimacy? Without a mother’s presence to guide her, there’s a sense that it would take very little to send her careening out of control and it is not long before the visits to Karisma — the local hot spot for a good night out — become a regular distraction.

Terry is concerned by the succession of late nights and while wishing his daughter to enjoy life, believes that exams and her future should give her cause to pause. Even more significant, Doncaster is making headlines in the national press for a spike in cases of a new and deadly virus known as HIV. He and others, urge her to always insist that the guys “wrap it up”, the charming local expression for practising safe sex.

Up to this point in proceedings, the frequently referenced Spice Girls have reigned supreme with their advocacy of girl power, but with Geri leaving the band, even dependable icons seem to be in a state of flux and sure enough Lindsay realises that something has to change. Jen too has softened her approach to life, settling for evenings in with her slightly dull boyfriend and we learn that she has always been encouraged to feel less of herself as a young woman of Chinese heritage. Not white enough for the English, not Chinese enough for her family, not sufficiently attractive enough for the lads. Phillips doesn’t shy away from the sensitive or contentious, writing the play with confidence and first hand knowledge of her subjects. She also performs Lindsay with a winning charm and youthful naivety which makes her easily likeable.

Directed by Kimberley Sykes on a cleverly contrived set of illuminated boxes by Hannah Sibai, the small cast land this hugely energetic play over the course of 90 minutes (straight through) often with the story spoken in fast couplets, adding to the rhythm and speed of delivery. Special credit should go to Jennifer Kay, the movement director whose sequences of races to scale and traverse the set, ensures that we accompany the Doncaster lasses literally through each of their ups, downs and wild escapades.

Children of the Night continues at Southwark Playhouse until 4th April.