There are plays which immerse the audience immediately. Fourteen, originally a memoir by Shannon Molloy and adapted by Nelle Lee, Nick Skubij and the author, grabs our attention and takes us back in time to 1999. To the town of Yeppoon on the coast of Rockhampton, where the birds sweetly sing as the morning sun drenches the timber balcony and weatherboard walls. But all is not idyllic in Shannon Molloy’s life as he navigates being fourteen, questioning his sexuality and dealing with life in a small town.

This is a story of a young man in an all-boys Christian school, subject to extreme bullying, both physical and verbal taunts and the victim of cruel practical jokes. Fourteen is told mostly in flashback snapshots by Shannon, flawlessly played by Conor Leach. Conor convincingly portrayed the emotions and vulnerability of Shannon.

The retelling of the unfairness and the constant terrorising of a young teenage boy must not be lost in current society, and Molloy has not held back in recounting these parts of his life which no doubt would have been painful to write about.

There are scenes in Fourteen which tell a cautionary tale of what happens when those who are supposed to protect us, such as the teachers in his school, not only fail in their duty of care but actively become an antagonistic force. There is a build-up of multiple classroom incidents where a teacher (played by Steven Rooke) continuously ignores verbal abuse towards Shannon in his classroom. I found another bullying incident extremely disturbing, where he grabs a sexually explicit letter falsely signed by Shannon and reads it aloud to the class. Today a quarter of a century later, teachers are subject to accountability for their actions so I would like to believe that they would not act the way that teacher did in Fourteen and if so, they would be called out.

The deceptively complex set design by Josh McIntosh uses a clever amalgamation of multi-story levels, several doors hinting to other larger spaces and a central turning stage used to create a spotlight on the characters and the storyline. The lighting by Trent Suidgeest and the sound design by Guy Webster were integral to the play, highlighting dramatic points and creating a realistic atmosphere. One intense scene where Shannon looks into the mirror facing the audience, as he contemplates ending his life was powerfully portrayed using the framing outline and lighting to highlight his distress.

Although harrowing, and some scenes are quite harrowing, director Nick Skubij, creative producer Ross Balbuziente and the cast ensure that there are times which show how the support of Shannon’s family and friends buoy him in his darkest moments. We cheer on Shannon in a leadership role as he creates a fashion show with the supportive youth worker from the local community youth centre. Fourteen shows just how important it is to have a community who loves you for who you are.

Cast members played multiple characters and they were distinguished with the use of costumes designed by Fabian Holford. Karen Crone stood out in multiple roles, notably as Shannon’s salt of the Earth supportive mother – who he calls his rock.

The script strikes a good balance of seriousness with comedy which lightens the play. Scattered throughout, the choice of familiar cheesy late 90’s music accompanied by synchronised dance moves onstage encouraged the audience to burst into song, which is always a good sign that they are having a good time!

The Shake and Stir Theatre company’s Fourteen is a story of pain, healing, and hope. We are left with one teen’s story of survival that can be blanketed across to any teen, regardless of gender, sexuality, or race. For those people who are feeling hopeless, or have experienced bullying, the universal message remains to never give up and that there is life to be lived and love to be had, beyond the school gate.

Fourteen runs for one hour and forty minutes with no interval. The play I saw on Friday, May 3, at The Riverside Theatre was the first performance of a National 20-city tour.

For tickets, go to www.shakeandstir.com.au/mainstage/fourteen

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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