As a family with adopted children, we are always pleased to hear about new productions that shine a light on foster care. Currently playing at Soho Theatre (ahead of a UK tour) is a new play by Lin Coughlan, inspired by the lives of young people in care. Based on three years of research, the play was developed alongside Playing ON’s ‘Raising the Roof’ programme, and promises an authentic look into the underrepresented lives of care experienced people.
Directed by Jim Pope, Flock follows two siblings who are trying to move on with their lives after years spent in the care system. 17 year old Robbie (Jamie Ankrah) can’t wait to be free from his foster carers and join his older sister, Cel (Gabriella Leonardi) who already has a place of her own. All Robbie wants is for the pair of them to finally be together, like they dreamed of growing up. But unknown to Robbie, Cel has her own aspirations of breaking free from the trappings of intergenerational trauma and heading off to university.
They’re both looking forward but are constantly having to navigate the sorts of obstacles that other young people don’t find in their paths. In Robbie’s case, they take the form of constant hoops that his foster carers and social worker, Mrs Boseley (Jennifer Daley) keep wanting him to jump through to prove he’s ready for independence. And while Cel’s managing to successfully hold down a job and her studies, she always seems to have Robbie trying to pull her backwards. Robbie’s always had Cel there to support him but she’s still trying to find the love that was always missing from their childhood, and the sort of relationship that their mother never had.
It’s a promising production that offers glimpses into the care experience but feels too much like fiction to be truly moving. The overarching narrative works well, and there is some nice use of humour juxtaposed against the darker moments, but it could do with leaning a bit more into the darkness . In particular, there is a recurring theme of Cel wanting to distance herself from the sorts of abusive relationships that her mother had, but constantly ending up with men who don’t treat her well. Ultimately, this plotline is pivotal, but Cel’s boyfriends are played almost as caricatures by Deshaye Gayle (who is excellent in his role as Robbie’s best mate, Miko, and clearly has the range to take on more nuanced characters).
Similarly, while there is clearly more than a grain of truth in the story of an overworked social worker crossing professional boundaries, there’s just a bit too much in here that feels a bit too fantastical, and takes away from the power of the piece. There is a good attempt at adding depth to Miko and Mrs Boseley’s characters, but there is perhaps a little too much going on to do justice to any of the individual storylines.
Where the production shines is in its focus on the more mundane aspects of being in care; things like the embarrassment of being 17 but still having your pocket money handed out by the local authority, with strict controls on how you spend it. Or being forced to learn how to cook meals for a family you don’t belong to, just to prove you’re ready to move into a home of your own. Jamie Ankrah is fantastic as Robbie, authentically conveying the anger and frustration of a young man who just wants to be like everyone else, while grappling with the trauma of his childhood.
Overall, Flock is an entertaining production that offers an insight into the care experience but doesn’t quite deliver the promised depth.
Flock plays at Soho Theatre from 8 October to 2 November 2024. We received a complimentary press ticket to the performance on Friday 11 October.
Image credit: Lucy Hayes