Director: Hannah Noone
Something new has landed at Theatr Clwyd, and it is bright, noisy and very much attached to its phone. Teenage, co-created by the Teenage Young Company, brings the world of adolescence to the stage in all its wonderfully chaotic forms, from social media and influencers to friendship, identity and the seemingly endless question of where today’s teenagers fit in.
Developed by young people aged 12–18, Teenage gives its young company the chance to work alongside professional theatre-makers. Through this wondrous opportunity, they have shaped a production that draws directly from their own experiences of growing up in a world that is constantly connected, constantly watching and, more often than not, constantly online.
Jacob Hughes’ set design is deliberately simple. A collection of chairs becomes bedrooms, then an exam hall, with dynamic chairography, while the young performers create much of the world around them through movement, dialogue and ensemble work. There is something fitting about this simplicity, as Teenage isn’t interested in elaborate spectacle so much as giving its young performers the space to be seen and heard.
One of the more playful moments comes from a performer taking on the role of David Attenborough, narrating the teenagers as though he has stumbled across them in their natural habitat. It’s a familiar idea, just as Mean Girls famously treats the high school cafeteria like a kind of teenage jungle, but here it gives the drama unfolding on stage a nature-documentary twist.
There is no shortage of enthusiasm from the young company, and it is clear how much time, energy and care has gone into bringing Teenage to the stage. This is particularly evident in the musical elements, with popular songs being reworked with new lyrics to fit the story. These moments are accompanied by some particularly effective lighting from Katy Morison, which adds energy and atmosphere to the otherwise minimal staging and gives the production a greater sense of scale. Russell Ditchfield’s composition and sound design also help to give these moments their rhythm and energy, complementing the young company without overpowering them.
Not all elements of adolescence will resonate equally with every audience member, and Teenage occasionally feels as though it is speaking most directly to those currently living through it. The enthusiasm of the young company is unmistakable, as is the care that has gone into bringing their ideas to the stage, although the production sometimes feels more successful in its celebration of young voices than in drawing its audience into the world it creates.
That is where Teenage finds its greatest value. It gives young people the room to explore their own experiences, to make something together and, ultimately, to stand on a professional stage and have an audience listen. Parts of the experience may not resonate with everyone beyond its generation, but it is certainly heartwarming to see a group of young people given the freedom to fill a theatre with their own voices when many that age would have wished for the same. For young people in particular, theatre can be a place to experiment, find confidence and make sense of the world around them, and Teenage gives its young company the opportunity to do just that.
Filled with infectious enthusiasm and a clear need to be understood, these young artists deliver a performance that feels wholeheartedly their own.
Runs until 9 September 2026
