THEATRE: CITIZENSHIP

BY KOMI SELLATHURAI

The problem with modern societies is that there are too many options and not enough answers. And if you are a teenager in this world, how do you break the rules when there are none in place’ The Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) tackles the search for 15-year-old Tom’s sexual identity in its first production for 2009, Citizenship.

Gays, bi-sexuals, straights, polygamists, swingers ‘ take your pick. Sexual choices have become so mainstream that Tom fumbles as he experiments with his friends hoping to find an answer to his sexuality.

Ultimately, this is a story about dealing with difficult emotional choices. He could have easily opted for a sensational approach but UK writer Mark Ravenhill (Shopping and F***ing, Pool (No Water) and Some Explicit Polaroids) wanted ‘to write a play that would humanise sex for young people.’ It is a much needed perspective in our highly sexualised culture, especially for our disenchanted youth.

3-14 Feb. ATYP studio 1, The Wharf, Hickson Road, Waslh Bay. $10-$15, 9251 3900 or email atyp@atyp.com.au