Theatre review: unmasking reality of corrupt housing system with a Smile!

Smile! cast members (c) SPID Theatre

Romario Williams reviews dystopian play that challenges injustice through community

‘Fight the powers that be’ is at the core of the story of Smile! brilliantly performed by the young people of SPID Theatre.

The opening reminded me of George Orwell’s 1984, as we are invited to live in the same dystopian future that the characters inhabit themselves.

We are introduced to the inmates who live in the correctional facility in which the play is set, divided into Quatro and Mono, the trainees, all played by women. This can be seen as an allegory of women’s roles in society, subservient and obedient nature, and how the patriarchy plays them against one other as they try to achieve financial and social freedom.

Expertly played by the young women of SPID Theatre with much passion and conviction, you can really feel the weight they are carrying, living in such conditions. These conditions highlight the ongoing problem of social housing, for example how seven of the inmates have to share one mattress. This can be seen as a representation of how bad living conditions in social housing can be in reality.

The masks worn by the women can be seen as the mask that working class people have to metaphorically put on every day

The staff of the prison are played by an all-male cast who each have their own way of manipulating the young women of the facility into subservience, constantly reminding them to always ‘smile’. This is a way to influence them to disassociate from their current situation, and to always know their place in the social structure they are in.

Additionally, the masks worn by the women can be seen as the mask that working class people have to metaphorically put on every day in order to navigate the working world, as we feel the need to dilute certain parts of ourselves in order for the elites to accept us into their system.

The play really brings to light how social housing is an ongoing issue in Britain today; how the government and those in power use propaganda to keep those of a lower social class in check and give them breadcrumbs in order to make them feel as if they are being heard and seen.

The performance of the examiner was expertly played by one of the young men of SPID Theatre who brought a lot of physicality and energy to the role, imposing his power over the young with a ruthless fist of injustice. Watching, you can really feel his intimidating nature as he directly asks questions to the audience, making them feel as if they are also being controlled by him.

I believe that Smile! was an insightful and enlightening look at social housing

I really enjoyed the camaraderie the women showed throughout the play as their dire circumstances made them grow closer together. For example, there’s a moment when one of the inmates was consulted by her comrades after suffering verbal abuse by the examiner. This can be juxtaposed with how the staff of the facility turn on one another once the inmates start to gain power and attain their freedom. One could say that this highlights the theme of community, as the women created a community around themselves in order to survive the facility, demonstrating how community can be used as a tool to gain social change and freedom.

Overall, I believe that Smile! was an insightful and enlightening look at social housing and how the powers that be manipulate those who do not have the privilege of owning their own home.

Also, the performances put on by the young people of SPID Theatre showed skill and technique beyond their age to convey community, strength and the uncompromisable essence of the human spirit.

I’d give Smile! a rating of four stars out of five.