Wherever you are in the world, living on the streets is a bleak, harsh reality. Those of us without that experience tend to fall into the trap of believing what politicians and the media tell us without really knowing the full story. Amy Wakeman created The Streets of London in order to give the homeless a voice, which in turn showcases both sides of street living and how it is depicted using well researched facts and true stories recorded on her travels.
A mindful, yet honest approach.
Julie is a balloon seller who, despite her struggles with alcohol and trying to sell her wares, holds onto hope in the form of a deflated balloon she wears round her neck that her mother gave to her before she went into care. Whilst trying to sell her wares and sharing stories of everything she has witnessed herself - including gangs, drugs, and trying to date people in a similar situation - we also are shown, through a use of projected extracts from newspapers, letter writing to the prime minister and shadow puppetry, how we have been told to view events by the media. This staging encouraged everyone to make up their own minds about the truth.
Although overall a strong piece, the first half of the play felt slow and the voice a little monotonous at times, despite an engaging energy in Wakeman's performance. However, as it all progresses, she settled into a good rhythm and we got more of a raw, honest performance, which helped to make Julie a better well-rounded character. The other thing to note is that occasionally the scene changes were too long, which meant that the energy felt like it needed to be wound up again before moving into the next section. Having said that, some might find it to be a necessary breathing space to take every bit of information in before continuing Julie's journey.
The Streets of London is not afraid to explore this particular world for the homeless with a mindful, yet honest approach. Wakeman is also keen to highlight the fact that mental health is always a challenge and one potential reason that we see so much drug usage, drinking and more when we pass by is that it masks the personal hell the homeless go through every day. This in particular was a highlight, as it made us see how people can change in the blink of an eye due to trauma and more. Whilst mental health is talked about more these days, there is still a long way to go and Wakeman portrayed that well here, creating a safe space in which to talk if we wished.
This play from Wooden Stick Theatre may not be for everyone for various reasons, but it does lift a lid on the stories we do not always see with integrity and honesty.
