Chewing Gum Dreams, The Shed - National Theatre

And so to the Shed: the National Theatre’s wonderful and intimate venue – due sadly to close in the not-too-distant future. We recommend getting yourself here before this little gem of a theatre is no more - and what better excuse than to visit the brilliant Chewing Gum Dreams, a one-woman play that explores the last days of childhood innocence before the onset of the gritty reality of adulthood?

The play tells the story of the smart, disillusioned, gobby teenage Tracey Gordon and her life: friendship, sex, raves, music, school, religion, money - and the number 67 bus. It’s a simple set-up - just actress Michaela Coel, a school uniform, a garage soundtrack and a chair which is used to masterful effect to show shifts in location: from bedroom to classroom to bus. Coel - who also wrote the piece - explores difficult themes: violence, assault, underachievement across generations -“I ain’t smart enough to be somebody, but I’m smart enough to know I’m nobody” - with huge and heartbreaking humour. 

Coel, award-winning playwright, poet and Kayla in the Channel 4 drama Top Boy, is a startling talent. Born and raised in Hackney, she is a successful musician as well as writer - her 2009 debut album, Fixing Barbie - achieved critical acclaim and propelled her on a global tour. She graduated from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2012, and from there landed herself the Alfred Fagon Award for Chewing Gum Dreams. 

In 2011, the Independent named Michaela Coel as one of the ‘young actors tipped as Britain's future stars of stage and screen’. Her extraordinary versatility and breadth of experience makes her a hugely exciting performer; Culture Whisper believes she is truly one to watch. Book now and let her impress you; we’re sure it will be worth it.