A NEW play that tackles a hidden problem is set to tour this autumn, and it will visit Reading’s South Street when it receives its premiere.
To mark the 30th anniversary of The Big Issue, the magazine sold by homeless people to help them earn a living, they commissioned Dougie Blaxland to write Unknown.
Created with support from Arts Council England and Roughhouse Theatre, the show was first performed as a radio play in October 2020, before being adapted for the stage last year.
It is a play about homelessness, and a young man’s struggle to survive on the streets.
Tracy Griffin, CEO of Big Issue Foundation, said: “With the exponential increase in homelessness over the last three years there has never been a more important time to raise awareness of the issues and the reality of life on the streets in the UK today.
“It is in this context that we are working with Roughhouse Theatre to bring their compelling drama to as wide an audience as possible.”
Mr Blaxland wrote the play after meeting with six people who have experience of homelessness on the streets of Bath and Bristol. Their experiences helped shape the drama.
It dramatisation of the tragic but true story of one young person’s journey from an abusive childhood to a life on the streets of Bath.
And he is pleased that Reading will be the opening night venue for the show. It is to be performed at South Street Arts Centre on Tuesday, October 11.
“It’s a venue that we love, it’s a really, really important venue for us,” he explained. “The audience response in Reading is second-to-none.”
John Lewis Reading has also been supportive to the show, being the first to respond to requests for assistance.
“The other reason,” Mr Blaxland said, “is the specific issues that relate to Reading.
“When we talk to The Big Issue about homelessness, Reading has one of the biggest problems outside of London and Edinburgh.
“It is a place that is absolutely illustrative of the issues that we face. It also has a big Big Issue community, and a very supportive community as well.
“There are charities and organisations that working to help.
“Reading has both sides of the coin: the negative and the positive. Coming here was a no brainer.”
The show’s origins as a radio play mean some tweaks have been made.
“The main difference is movement,” he said. “There’s nothing duller, in terms of theatre, than listening to words and nothing happening, just people talking.
“So, the main difference is transposing a kind of reported narrative of events into direct action with dialogue and movement … literally translating from one language into another.”
Other changes include fleshing out the backstory of the characters.
While launched as a radio play, it predates covid. During the lockdowns, homeless people were found accommodation in hotels and hostels.
“There was a great irony that the moment it’s over, they were back out on the streets.
“They’re back to square one. The only difference is that we now have an exponential rise because of the economy and the problems being encountered across the nation.
“Covid hasn’t caused that, but it gave us a temporary respite.
“Things are a lot worse than they were before.”
Mr Blaxland said that people see homelessness on the streets every day, but not everyone asks about the story that lies behind the person on the streets.
“Some of us engage, some smile, some might sit and talk, some buy The Big Issue, some might give dog food to the dog, but the vast majority walk on by and don’t give it another thought.
“Unknown, I hope, asks the questions and explores why the person is there.”
He added: “We are all four pay cheques away from living on the streets ourselves. It’s a story that there but for the grace of god I go.
“It’s common to each and every one of our towns and cities.”
Unknown will be performed at South Street Arts Centre on Tuesday, October 11. Tickets cost £15, or £13 for members. For more details, call the box office on 0118 960 6060, or log on to whatsonreading.com
