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Devised by
the theatre company Quiconque, Hideaway is a series of interweaving stories about
children in hiding. It highlights childish innocence and how children can be forced
to make the best of situations that are beyond their control or understanding.
Besides their innocence, the audience is reminded of the resourcefulness and imaginative
qualities that children have; qualities that may be lost through adulthood but
are invaluable during times of crisis.
Nadia Morgan and Lynne Forbes perform the stories with relentless energy.
These draw on various events throughout history and their effects on individual
young lives. The audience were presented with characters such as two Dutch Jewish
girls forced into hiding during the second world war, the young Catherine de Medici,
who was secretly raised in a convent, and Russian children living in the sewers
of Moscow, the victims of economic depression.
Morgan and Forbes gave
touching, humorous and also intimate performances. Most affecting was their depiction
of the two young Dutch girls who spent years hiding the loft of a farmhouse. Morgan's
frustrated teenage angst at being hidden from society was a realistic contrast
with the increasingly weary childish optimism of her younger sibling. What came
across well in all the characters was how it is not the potentially fatal threats
that worry children most, but that they are also robbed of adult support and attention.
Quiconque
have a reputation for being an inventive and physical company. Hideaway was a
perfect example of their signature style.
Hideaway
is appearing at the Pleasance Dome Edinburgh from 31 July.
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