Moving play brings home traumas of life on streets
A hard-hitting production of the play Unknown has won praise for putting a spotlight on homelessness and childhood trauma in Bath.
The production, which ran at Bath’s Rondo Theatre, tells the true and moving story of a young man’s struggle to survive living on the streets of the UK.
First performed as a radio play in October 2020, Unknown was praised for its intimate, extremely moving, and wonderful performances with Bath-based filmmaker Ken Loach also saying “harrowing stories eloquently told - all the more shocking because we know them to be true.”
Unknown is a play that tells the tragic story of one young person’s journey from an abusive childhood to life on the streets of Bath – one of the most affluent cities in the UK.
Written by Dougie Blaxland, the production was enriched by the contributions of six people who have recent experiences of homelessness: Sammy Clark, Nathan Dempster, Ian Duff, Paul Jones, Lloyd Rusdale and Anthony Williams.
The production was commissioned by The Big Issue, which offers homeless people and those with vulnerable housing situations a means to earn a legitimate income, with the support of the Arts Council England and The Big Lottery.
Between 2016 and 2019, more than 800 people died living and sleeping rough on the streets of the UK. A considerable number have never been identified or named.
In the past year, rough sleeping in England soared by 39.4 per cent.
In the South West, the figure rose from 1,090 in 2019/20 to 1,640 in 2020/2021, an increase of 50.5 per cent, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.
After the show at the Rondo, coproducer Shane Morgan and Bath MP Wera Hobhouse discussed the issues raised by the play.
Mrs Hobhouse said: “It was a powerful and very special event which has shone a light on such a troubling issue.
“Watching the production was emotional with the knowledge that the story is true and the sobering realisation that homelessness is still growing in this country.
“Ultimately, underpinning the main story is childhood trauma.
“It is important that childhood trauma is targeted early on to prevent it having lifelong impact.
“We must also ensure that there is enough social housing, but this alone is not enough in cases like these.
“People with complex needs must be given the support they need.
“With rough sleeping figures tragically spiralling, we are in dire need of action.
“I worry about the impact of a National Insurance increase combined with the reduction in Universal Credit.”