The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return is a play firmly set in Luton and follows 2 friends Voice and Lewis over one night as they get ready for a house party, the highlight of the 16 year old friends week. It weaves in stories of neglect, class and violence as we meet a multitude of people who have had an impact on Voices and Lewis’ life in a variety of ways.

The play written by Sam Edmunds succeed in both giving the play a clear sense of place whilst making it feel universal. The friends that we see with their interest in girls and trying to buy drink underage are recognisable instantly and the show flits cleverly between issues such as the friends current crush to their relationship with their parents. The fact that Lewis’ mother works long hours and barely sees her son as a result is framed from Lewis’ point of view but the audience can easily understand what this, and other similar stories, throughout the play are driving at. The language used by Edmunds feels also poetic but yet never out of place by the 16 year olds speaking it. There are however moments that I wished that the shows pivotal climax comes earlier so the audience can then see the friends unpick the repercussions as the short moments that we saw of this were some of the hardest hitting and emotive of the play.

The structure of the show is also extremely engaging, narrated by Voice and whilst the majority of the show is focused on Voice and Lewis we meet other characters along the way including ‘Boss Man’ who runs the corner shop, Lakesha who is Voice’s crush, Voice’s parents and family friends and many more. These parts are all played by Elan Butler who typically plays Lewis and the 3rd cast member, Leanne Henlon. The characters are so brilliantly written and the actors body language so defined that its always clear to see just who is being portrayed and this helps make Luton feel that bit more alive in front of us.

The cast of the aforementioned Butler and Henlon along with Nathaniel Christian as Voice are wonderful in the roles. Leanne Henlon is responsible for much of the multi-rolling in the show and she does so with apparent ease, from awkward teenager unsure what to do with her limbs through to one of the menacing Brooks brothers and from elderly Boss Man running his corner shop through to Voice’s mum, each portrayal is inspired. Christian and Butler have natural chemistry as Voice and Lewis and their energy becomes infectious, you can’t help but grin back at them when they engage with the audience.

Writer Sam Edmunds Co-Directs along with Vikesh Godhwani and they really lean into the natural rhythm of the piece ensuring an engaging, high paced show. The set, designed by Rob Miles, looks simple but it allows the cast to appear on different levels, disappear and reappear with ease and move around, adding to the feel that Luton is their playground.

The sound design by Matteo Depares also really enhances the sense of time and place in this piece. There is a playlist of 00’s songs as the audience arrive and this continues throughout the show, from the songs played at the house party to the music listened to in Voice’s bedroom. This is especially effective as the moments of climax aren’t afraid to use silence. When the pace, energy and volume has been so blistering throughout the stillness and the silence of the vital moment underpins just how everything has changed.

The Chaos That Has Been And Will No Doubt Return is an inspired look at society through the lenses of a teenager; a powerful play that shows that sometimes the most relatable pieces are universal due to their specificity.

The Chaos That Has Been And Will No Doubt Return is on at Southwark Playhouse until 27th September. You can find out more and buy tickets here.

If you like this review you might also like my review of Stereophonic, Inter Alia and Stranger Things The First Shadow.