Forefront Theatre Company’s journey began in January 2015 and from very early on we settled on the idea of “adulthood”, an ever-looming prospect for us all as our three years at University draw to a close. We wanted our final performance to have a purpose and to be relevant as it is significant not only to our peers at university who are preparing to leave the safe environment of education and join the intimidating wide world, but it is relevant to everyone. Adults are continuously growing themselves; growing with their children, growing older. As final year students, most of us agreed that we still do not in fact feel like fully-fledged adults and this spurred the discussion of what actually defines a person as an “adult”.
- Is it your age – physical and mental?
- How responsible you are?
- Whether or not you are dependent on another adult?
- Unfortunate circumstances forcing you to grow up faster?
Who then makes the decision that one has made the transition into adulthood? Is it the law: with passports, driving, drinking, sex? Is it society: your parents, teachers, friends? Or is it in fact yourself: your personal circumstances, responsibilities or achievements that deem you worthy to call yourself an “adult”? These questions provided us with the starting point for the next few months creating our piece, Shoes to Fill.
Hannah.