WRITTEN when she was
just 18, Shelagh Delaney's "kitchen sink" play was hailed
as one of the greatest taboo-breaking works of its time.
A Taste Of Honey was
groundbreaking in confronting issues of class, race, gender and
sexual orientation in mid-20th century Britain.
The centres on the
character of Helen and her feisty teenage daughter Jo. When Helen
runs off with a car salesman, Jo takes up with Jimmy a black sailor
who promises to marry her, before he heads off back to sea, leaving
her pregnant and alone.
Art student Geoff moves
in and assumes the role of surrogate parent until, misguidedly, he
sends for Helen and their unconventional setup unravels.
Now almost 60 years on
A Taste Of Honey is back and in a new revival which has just opened
at the National Theatre.
Amongst its star
studded cast are two young actors from South London. Eric Kofi Abrefa
from Stockwell and Forest Hill-based Harry Hepple, who play Jimmy and
Geoff respectively. They admit the themes thrown up by the piece have
meant it’s been a learning curve for both of them.
"It is set in a
time where attitudes to everything were very different to how they
are now,” says Harry.
"Life experiences
were very different. People frowned on single teenage mothers back
then but in many ways it was less about age and more about the fact a
woman wasn’t married - that was the real crime.
"Now people don't
bat an eyelid if a woman has a child but isn't married, and they
aren't chained to the kitchen sink, but in those days there was
definitely an expectation that any woman having a child would be
married and she would look after her husband and kids."
To help put the issues
raised by the piece into historical context, during rehearsals the
cast was visited by women who talked to them about what life was like
in the 1950s.
"It was a bit of
an eye opener!” laughs Harry. "We were told stories about what
life was like if you were black, gay or unmarried with a child. Some
of the attitudes people had are quite shocking."
"I was also amazed
about how big a deal it was to have a mixed race child,” adds Eric.
"They talked about
mixed race communities and the myths that were purported at the time,
for example if you had sex with a black man and sex with a white man
and conceived a child there was still a possibility it would be mixed
race. It's incredible to think it was only 50 years ago people had
those views."
But they agree it's
been a fantastic experience to be part of.
"It's a brilliant
play, so well written and observed," says Eric. "It's a
fascinating subject and we've learned such a lot from it.
"People still
relate to it," he adds. "I was born and grew up in
Stockwell and have seen attitudes change over the years. However
there are still pockets of racism and there is still a concern about
being gay, teenage pregnancy or being a single parent in some
communities. Thankfully attitudes are changing though."
And for Harry it was
groundbreaking in other ways.
"It's one of those
seminal plays which I'm sure is responsible for some of the TV shows
we watch today," he says.
"Coronation
Street, Phoenix Nights and The Royale Family, they are really
successful and groundbreaking in their own way. Nothing really
controversial happens in The Royale Family - we just see them going
about their lives - but it’s compelling and the characters are ones
that people relate to.
"Although it was
of its time A Taste Of Honey really tried to break the mould. What’s
brilliant for me about it is that it’s about two women, the
relationship between a mother and daughter, and we get to hear their
voices.
"The male
characters are satellites and that’s rare as normally it's the
other way round and the men dominate the play.
"It’s nice to be
part of something so different."
And both are excited to
be bringing it to the National's Lyttelton stage.
"It’s always a
privilege to be here,” says Eric. "And to be part of such an
amazing piece of work is very exciting."
"There's a
fantastic community and family spirit within the building,” adds
Harry warmly. “When I was training it always looked quite daunting.
You can’t easily see in because it’s a big concrete building, but
when you are inside it’s really nice and everyone is lovely.
"It’s the
epicentre of great theatre and a lovely place to work."
A Taste of Honey is on
at the Lyttelton stage at the National Theatre until Sunday, May 11.
Tickets from £15. Call the box office on 020 7452 3000
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