Camden Youth Theatre: And the Stars Were Burning Brightly at New Diorama Theatre

Performed by a cast of 13 to 19-year-old actors, Camden Youth Theatre’s And the Stars Were Burning Brightly combines dance, song, rap, digital media and traditional acting to explore the underlying themes of Danielle Jawando’s acclaimed YA novel. 

The production begins with a scene from hit TV show The Voice, which is a slightly confusing thread that is perhaps intended to set the cultural context of the play, but feels removed to the point that one wonders if this is the right theatre. And the Stars Were Burning Brightly then goes on in these various mediums to show the audience the aftermath of Al’s suicide. Al was a bright and insightful teenage boy obsessed with stars, maths and art, and the play slowly unveils the reasons for his death as those left behind struggle to uncover the pieces of his story and find authentic ways to honour his memory. The result is a tragic and raw account of identity, relationships, teenage power games and bullying in the age of social media.

Three digital screens line the back of the stage and depict equations, stars and Al’s artwork. Featuring zoomed-in camera angles, these images provide a visually compelling backdrop and important context. The screens also show the real-time action happening on-stage, presented in found footage style, giving us a snapshot of the heinous videos posted of Al online. The space is small and, apart from a line of red chairs, sparse, but the company uses various media forms to create an expansive and compelling experience.

The performers use rap and song effectively as alternative ways to deliver the narrative. Dance sequences are nicely used, notably in one scene where Al attempts to convince his online partner to meet in-person, the dialogue mixed with physical theatre as other actors form a circle around the object of his desire to prevent them from reaching each other. There is an avant-garde, surreal element to the choreography, which fits the feeling of the story. Al is excellently portrayed with apt body language and tonal inflections to create the sense of a smart, enthusiastic, but self-conscious and insecure young man who knows his passions could be easily ridiculed. The young actor playing Elijah also does a great job of bringing this hard-shelled, probably deeply wounded and yet undeniably horrible character to life.

And the Stars Were Burning Brightly reveals events slowly and ends with some truly troubling scenes of pure cruelty, but it can be hard to follow at times, particularly for those who are not familiar with the book. The cast function as a chorus, shouting words or singing phrases to amplify the details. The play ends with a tearful and genuinely heartfelt plea: one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, and the ensemble break the forth wall to push this point home, openly crying, counting to 40 and beseeching the characters, the audience and each other to hold on, reach out and be mindful of each other. Poor mental health and teen suicide are tragically epidemic, and it is both touching and troubling that these young actors are clearly so aware, and personally touched by this reality. 

Sophia Moss
Photo: Alex Brenner

And the Stars Were Burning Brightly is at New Diorama Theatre from 2^nd until 3^rd June 2023. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.