Review: There’s Nobody Else in the World…, The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic – ‘A raw, riotous and jarringly wholesome critique of the current education system’

More than ever before, the state of the current education system is at the centre of intense debate, with critics claiming a generation of young people have been let down by the status quo.

It is a system where the important traits of curiosity, creativity and empathy are suppressed and the “miscreants” are punished. And there is a gross power imbalance between those who are in charge of education, and the recipients of it.

These themes are explored with refreshing candour by a 14-strong cast of 14-20 year old Bristol Old Vic Young Company members in their latest production.

The story is set in the year 2025 in the Re-Education Centre, a few hundred metres below the surface of the earth.

We find a group of “juvenile delinquents” sent down there for quiet reflection, penance and reform. The daily sessions are run with a regimented rigidity by Christian, the facilitator.

In the opening scene, the so-called “offenders” storm the lower half of the theatre with shrieking and shouting. The offences of the “the Little Sh*ts” (as they are referred to) are so negligible as to be farcical.

The interactions between the fellow pupils cover a gamut human emotions, from empathy and kindness to jealousy, resentment and apathy.

And the question remains: can they get out of this proverbial dungeon and reconcile with humanity? Have they done enough penance to do so?

It is an open invitation from the company – who also wrote and devised the show – for audiences to reverse the common perspective and instead to view the world through the eyes of the next generation, in this case young people who are routinely and wrongly pilloried for a myriad of social ills by those in control.

The director Harry Gould triumphs in bringing to light the inadequacy and irrelevance (to some degree) of the current education system, which is seen to produce ghouls and monsters out of young people who require support, empathy and skills to navigate the pitfalls of life.

The show also explores the idea that until recently, the mental health issues among young people were poorly understood and often derided with admonitions such as “Just get on with it!”.

We see a generational gap, across which the older generation may look at the issues faced by young adults with a pedantic and cynical gaze. And with terms such as “snowflakes” entering the vocabulary, the discourse is too often diverted to an inter-generational mud-slinging contest.

The play provides valuable space for reflection, not least about the fact that only now is it starting to become clear the full extent of the impact that the pandemic had on the mental health of young people.

It’s an impressively strong collective performance, for which the entire Young Company cast and creative team should take huge credit.

The ensemble had the audience hooked for the entirety of the 60 minute show – and they duly responded with a deserved standing ovation at the curtain call.

There’s Nobody Else in the World and the World was Made for Me is at The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic from January 11-14. Tickets are available from www.bristololdvic.org.uk.

All photos: Chelsey Cliff

Read more: How Bristol Old Vic Young Company changes lives

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