These Youths Be Protesting: Review

I am always on the lookout for what has popped up at KXT, and I was not

disappointed by Izabella Louk’s new comedic interpretation of climate activism

that recently hit the stage. As a finalist in the 2024 Martin Lysicrates Prize,

THESE YOUTHS BE PROTESTING was an entertaining watch into the

Sunlake Downs High School Recycling Club.

The audience is taken on a whirlwind journey as the rising generation of

youths has to take on the heavy lifting that is: the climate crisis. We watch as

they scurry for solution as their favourite spot, The Dunes, is planned to be

taken over by a coal mine site, and witness how they handle the highs and

lows of learning how to protest and going #viral on the internet.

The recycling club is comprised of four very different, but integral teenage

personalities; ‘Lemon’ (Karrine Kanaan), is the up-and-coming school leader

who will do anything to save her reputation. ‘Georgie’ (Rachel Thomas), is the

softer-spoken sidekick and future Vice-Captain who figures out just how

strong her voice can be. Then here’s ‘Jimbo’ (Hamish Alexander), the so-

called dropkick who ends up caring a lot more than people think, and ‘Mandy’

(Mây Trần), the radical eco-activist who’s heart aches from the destruction of

the earth. Whilst on this note, I must give credit to Trần who stepped in at the

last minute with only a week to dig their nails into the piece. It’s never an easy

task to handle, and Tran did an exceptional job.

A piece of theatre can never come together without a whole team behind it,

and I must say that director and writer, Louk did a remarkable job at

highlighting the impact of the new generation being handed something as

heavy as the climate crisis, with no help or plan on how to actually fix it.

I appreciated the directional choices of the team; however, I felt like there was

potential for more tension. Perhaps a faster-paced tempo in those more

emotional or heavier scenes could’ve served well. That being said, these

actors gave their absolute all on stage, and there is something incredibly

special about being able to witness art come to life in front of your eyes.

There is so much integrity in this play; you will come out wanting to research

the latest climate news and urging to stay up-to-date on it. If you haven’t

already bought a ticket, I would go grab one!