the anxiety of bringing in a new life to the world and the struggle of bringing up a new life

Smother, by Sarah Cole & Coram Young Parents
101 King's Cross Road
till 05.06.2010

As part of the Reveal King's Cross programme, Smother is "a glimpse of a world where young parents navigate their own adulthood amidst the complexities of raising a child." according to the introduction by Art Angel.

The performance is developed by artist Sarah Cole with composer Jules Maxwell and the young parents at Coram through a series of workshop that lasts 9 months. Although they take an abstract approach, it nevertheless delivers a sense of anxiety on the hardship these teen parents face in the real world.

(Below is description about the performance so if you plan to go see it and do not want to be informed, please stop reading now.)

The choice of venue is quite unique - the block is 3-storey high with a basement, and the footprint is so tiny one wonder how proper furniture such as a double bed could be fit in at all excerpt in the basement. The tight space successfully portrays the difficult living environment most young parents are situated.

There are 3 actresses throughout the preview performance we attended. They do not actually interact with each other. Instead they appear alone in the various scenes, reinforcing the loneliness and helplessness these parents experience in the parenthood if they cannot obtain proper advice from family or support organisations.

These are highlights of the scenes in the performance -

video link

video link

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The organiser has managed to bring the audience's attention to a social problem using performing arts as the medium. It would be more beneficial to the young parents that they wish to help if there are leaflets or flyers handing out to the audience after the performance, so they can find out more about the services available or any volunteering work they can take part in.

Full photo set here

Further Readings -

Listing of the performance in Time Out London
Official page in Art Angel
Official page of Sarah Cole
Official page of Coram
Official website of Reveal King's Cross