Protest, the new play from Hannah Lavery (Lament for Sheku Bayoh, Drift) and directed by Northern Stage’s own Natalie Ibu (Artistic Director of Northern Stage, Road, The White Card), comes to Orkney Theatre on Thursday 18 May.

The play is a powerful production which follows the lives of three young girls as they learn to use their voices and take a stand against injustices in their community. Aimed at young people aged 8 and up, the play is an important introduction to activism for all.

The cast includes Olivier-nominated Kirsty MacLaren (Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour | National Theatre of Scotland, Fiddler on the Roof | Menier Chocolate Factory), recently seen in The Crown (Season 3) and has just finished filming George Clooney’s adaptation of The Boys in the Boat, Tamara Fairbairn (The Moors | Hope Theatre) and Esmé Kingdom who makes her professional debut.

Protest is a three-hander exploring what it takes to make a difference, the power of friendship, and the importance of believing in your own voice

Written by Hannah Lavery (Lament for Sheku Bayoh, The Drift, National Theatre of Scotland, Eavesdropping, ThickSkin)

Directed by Natalie Ibu (Road, The White Card)

Performed by Tamara Fairbairn (The Moors), Esmé Kingdom and Kirsty MacLaren (The Crown, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour)

Protest follows Alice, Jade and Chloe. Running is Alice’s happy place – she’s the best runner at her school but is struggling to prove her worth. Jade is slowly coming to realise that prejudices can be found everywhere, even in the most surprising places. Realising that her education is ill-equipped to encompass her own history and heritage, and taunted by bullies at school, she knows it’s time to tell her own story. Meanwhile, litter is piling up in the local forest, and all over the world an environmental crisis is looming. Chloe is determined to make a change, starting with the town. The three girls prepare to stand up for what they believe in despite the injustices stacked against them.

Writer Hannah Lavery said:

“It felt important to write a play for young people which offered hope. We are living in such tumultuous times that can leave us all and especially young people with a sense that we have no agency to inspire and create change. So, I wanted to celebrate those young people who within their local communities, within their schools, families and friendship groups are working to make their world a better and fairer place for us all.”

Orkney Theatre

Thursday 18 May 2023, 7pm

For more info: www.orkneytheatre.co.uk

Ticket info at 01856871445 stmagnusfestival.com  boxoffice@stmagnusfestival.com