365

Synopsis

There are over 70,000 children in care in Britain today. On average they pass through 11 stages of care. In their late teens they have to make the difficult transition from childhood to adulthood, from care to independence. A Practice Flat is one of the state's mechanisms to gently introduce these children to the adult world. 365 is the story of a practice flat - a purpose-built witness to hopes, dreams, fear, opportunity and memory. 365 follows the lives of a group of young people who with their humour, imagination, wit and raw courage pass through the practice flat, taking their first faltering steps towards adulthood and the outside world.

Our Review:

12 September 2008

David Harrower’s new play for the National Theatre of Scotland, one of the most eagerly anticipated productions at last month’s EIF, was accused by some Edinburgh critics of being in a state of unreadiness at the time of its festival debut.

The few weeks that have passed since then have obviously been productive, for this is a company who have grown up, ironically enough as most of their characters are denied the chance to do so. 365, inspired by Nick Davies’ late 90s book on British child poverty, is a fragmented ensemble piece – multiple narratives combining to provide a snapshot of life in a block of ‘practice flats’, where adolescents in care learn how to live as adults.

Most of the characters – the abandoned child, the immigrant, the misfit – are archetypes, and don’t throw up particular surprises. But the humanity of the performances and the raw emotional pulse beating beneath the surface of every scene is compelling. Gra...

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Latest User Review

Megan - 3 December 2008:

i saw this at the lyric hammersmith on a school trip and i almost cried. it moved me so much and my whole class really appreciated it. the actors were fantastic and really touching. The choreographed pieces within it almost moved me to tears and everyone in the audience seemed genuinely moved by the performance. thought it was great!...

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