Unknown – Greenwich Theatre, London

Writer: Dougie Blaxland

Directors: Moira Hunt and Shane Morgan

Ricky is caught in the cycle of homelessness, failed by the system and running out of places to turn for help. He’s in danger of becoming part of the harrowing statistic of over 800 people who have died sleeping rough on the streets of the UK from 2017-2019 – many of whom are unidentified and unknown.

Dougie Blaxland’s well written script is infuriatingly accurate, highlighting the heartbreaking cycle of homelessness and the struggle to break free from the barriers that form within it. Written with assistance from individuals who have experienced being homeless themselves (Sammy Clark, Nathan Dempster, Ian Duff, Paul Jones, Lloyd Rusdale and Anthony Williams), the realistic portrayal of each frustrating encounter is intensely emotive.

Ricky (Scott Bayliss) begins his life with an abusive parent, struggling in school and being bullied by his peers. This unfortunate start puts him on a complicated path past childhood, becoming dependent on alcohol and drugs to block out the hard times, leaving home at age 16. When he runs out of sofas to surf on, he starts sleeping rough, trying to find work, accommodation, and a safe place to sleep each night, fighting against bureaucracy. Inundated with leaflets, schemes, paperwork and prejudice he struggles with the reality of being stuck in the system, in an endless cycle of red-taped rage.

Bayliss is brilliant within his role, expressing the frustration well, keeping his character likeable and encouraging the right amount of sympathy alongside the informative insight into the isolating lifecycle many homeless people go through. Dan Gaisford and Sabrina Laurison play a variety of characters, from family members, Big Issue sellers, doctors and council staff. They do an impeccable job of transforming into each character, differentiating each one with a variety of accents and mannerisms alongside minimal props. All three actors passionately express the message of the narrative confidently and succinctly. Directors Moira Hunt and Shane Morgan break up scenes with statistics of unidentified deaths registered for rough sleepers, which adds even more poignant credibility to an already touching storyline.

It’s a powerfully moving performance that will rightfully shock, sadden and completely enrage you. With the cost-of-living crisis forcing more and more people into financially compromised situations, the risk of becoming homeless is getting higher for many. This is a disappointingly relevant show and deserves an audience to shine a light on yet another broken system in modern day Britain that is in desperate need of fixing.

Runs until 22 October 2022