The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return wins New Writing Award at inaugural Besties!
Chalk Line Theatre have won the inaugural New Writing Award at The Besties – the new pan festival awards selected by The Skinny/Fest magazine which will platform the best work on show this summer from across the different festivals.
The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return aims to explore the beauty of youth against the harshness of the environment. Awarded five stars by Fest Magazine, writer Anahit Behrooz wrote in her review, There is a weightiness to this political context, yet the sincerity with which the play treats its characters is far from trauma porn; rather, a delirious joy winds throughout. The staging is neat and dynamic, with doors on the minimal set opening like pop-up books – a cleverness that is matched in its script, which bounces with rhythm and humour.
Packed with noughties bangers, shots of shitty gin and swagger, it unfolds in real time, sweeping us along with its rapid pace and linguistic vigour. With the chaos of violence on the streets, austerity in the neighbourhood, and a cracking house party, this show presents a tapestry of restlessness.
This production continues Chalk Line's remit of creating important socio-political work, following the successes of Untapped award-winning Blanket Ban, COMMON award-winning The Nobodies and Testament.
Writer Sam Edmunds comments, It feels like an exceptional achievement to win an award for best new writing, amongst the hundreds of shows at the festival, which I can only thank my team for bringing to life. I feel honoured that a show about my hometown, its people, its history and about the working-class communities standing up for what they deserve is recognised with this award.
The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return will run until Monday 26 August.
Tickets are available from: Summerhall Festival 2024
Further Information; What We Do | Chalk Line Theatre