In the final moments of writer/director Izabella Louk’s These Youths Be Protesting, a comedy about the chaos of youth and of climate change premiering at KXT on Broadway, Mây Trần’s Mandi explodes into a rage-filled monologue. All of the anger and fear that’s been bubbling inside of her comes pouring out. Her rage towards those in power who continue to deny that climate change is a direct result of their actions. Rage towards complicity and apathy. Rage towards a future that is uncertain, as climate disasters grow more catastrophic by the year. It’s here we feel the urgency of Louk’s message, echoing the voices of a generation who will inherit a world that is hurtling towards catastrophe.
A finalist for the 2024 Martin Lysicrates Prize, These Youths describes itself as part Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, part Don’t Look Up. Blinking Light Theatre, an indie company whose ethos revolves around creating environmentally sustainable theatre, hands the megaphone to the youth for an exploration of climate activism and the importance of finding your voice.
After a visit at a school fundraiser from local (fictional) politician Greg Moresby, the students of Sunlake Downs High School’s Recycling Club are presented with a giant novelty cheque, with the event being posted directly to Instagram (#campaigntrail). It’s not until they discover that Moresby has just approved a new mine to be built in “the only nice place in town” and a favourite local hang-out spot – The Dunes – that they realise the money is stained with the grubbiness of greenwashing.
Inspired by “that Swedish girl with the braids”, the group skips school and heads to Sydney to confront Moresby and demand to have their interaction taken offline – much to the disapproval of future School Captain and the club's immovable leader, Lemon (Karrine Kanaan).
...there’s a solid foundation here, with enough tinder to spark a revolution
The characters of These Youths are crafted with consideration, avoiding the trappings of shallow on-stage stereotypes (even if, admittedly, that’s where we begin). The detention-prone, mullet-sporting Jimbo (Hamish Alexander) enters with a heavy swagger that immediately tells you everything you need to know about him (or, so you’d think). Trần’s defensive Mandi holds a tight ball of fury within, quick to burn bridges as she sees the world around her ablaze. Rachel Thomas’ Georgie sits in the shadow of her best friend, Lemon, delivering assuredly ditzy comedic one liners with aplomb. Meanwhile, Lemon’s focus on environmentalism is clearly in service of her own legacy; she’s demanding, controlling, and her vision only goes so far as buying more recycling bins.
The action plays out on Paris Bell’s vibrant recycled cardboard set, which appears almost overly simplistic in its configuration. The yellowed dunes sit to one side, two large trees erupting from its tiered sands. Opposite, behind a metallic cage, a fiery pit stares back at us – distracting by nature, it echoes the everpresent, uncontainable threat of climate disaster – eventually playing into the play’s final events.
There are moments where the cast faces the audience head on, demanding that we look within at our own attitudes towards climate activism and the nature of protest. In my years as a teacher, the "School Strike 4 Climate" movement provoked a range of discussions – from “these kids don’t know what they’re talking about” through to “kids should be in school learning, not out on the streets bludging” and finally, “at least they’re doing something for what they believe in”.
As a piece that holds up a mirror to our times, These Youths succeeds. However, the production’s various elements struggle to come together as a satisfying whole – storylines are left to be closed, the inevitable change in our stoic leader comes around too abruptly; and the sound design fails to be encapsulating enough to transport us into the social media storm and political mud-slinging the characters become entangled in.
However, Louk’s writing is strong – it is not only a commentary on current events, there are lines that feel like they could be ripped verbatim from the news cycle. Think of the recent incident where 21-year-old protester Alexa Stuart from climate action group, Rising Tide, interrupted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the election campaign trail, yelling: “Mr Albanese, you say you care about young people – and yet since getting elected your government has approved 33 new coal and gas projects!" This may as well be a line pulled from the script.
The team at Blinking Light might not have known that their latest show would open in the midst of a federal election campaign. But call it fate, or just sheer luck, this piece speaks to the conversations that are dominating the leadership race – especially with the Greens’ campaign gaining momentum, pointing to holding Labor accountable on big issues like climate change. However, it would be a disservice to say that These Youths Be Protesting has an idealistic understanding of the world – it ripples with raw, authentic emotions about seriously distressing issues. The production itself may not quite do justice to the language, but there’s a solid foundation here, with enough tinder to spark a revolution.
These Youths Be Protesting is playing at KXT on Broadway until April 19, 2025. Tickets can be booked here.
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