Elmi TV's video: The Bristol Old Vic: BASSETT Short Clip September 2011

Bassett, written by James Graham and performed by the Bristol Old Vic Young Company, deals with the reactions of one class of young people in the town who have been locked into their classroom by their citizenship supply teacher, who seems to have absconded after a bout of bad behaviour. At first we see the class sitting at their desks, then gradually we see their personalities and relationships unfold. Leo, a cocky young man in a baseball cap, prowls the room as if it were a cage, testing his classmates' reactions. He is proud of the 'repat' ceremonies and is annoyed they cannot attend. Kelly, a young black girl, is his equal in forcefulness, but seems mainly interested in celebrity culture. Facing the audience throughout in the corner is Spencer, who has been told by the missing teacher to face the wall, and will not stop despite the class' increasing opinion she may not be coming back at all. Initially the energetic 14-strong young cast portray typical classroom teasing and backbiting, but gradually the atmosphere darkens until the classmates reenact the shocking Abu Ghraib torture photographs. The young cast performed energetically and convincingly recreated a typical classroom atmosphere, with James Hogarth as Leo, Alice Downing as Lucy, Elmi Rashid-Elmi as Amid, and Lara Simpson as Kelly outstanding. 8/10 MICHAEL CLARK