Theatre Review: Punk Rock, King's Theatre

Set against the backdrop of towering, authoritative bookshelves in a high school library, Punk Rock, directed by Sarah Frankcom, is an immensely dark and unsettling classroom drama following eight sixth-formers as they deal with the burden of middle-class expectations.

Set in the week preceding mock exams, they each contemplate weaknesses and insecurities for the first time during this stressful period, distracted only by the more terrifying prospect of being shoehorned into the real world where they can no longer hide behind intelligence or social posturing.

The cast is led by Rupert Simonian as the highly intelligent William Carlisle, whose indecisive musings and affable manner make him initially appear a harmless soul, but which soon give way to a more tormented picture following the sudden death of his favourite teacher and rejection at the hands of prickly new girl Lilly Cahill.

The sarcastic Bennett (Edward Franklin) and arrogant girlfriend Cissy (Ruth Milne) are portrayed effortlessly and contribute to the natural dynamic within the group.

Simon Stephens' script expertly cultivates subtle undertones of anger and sexual tension throughout, which manifest when the increasingly erratic Bennett faces up to his suppressed sexual urges and lashes out at Chadwick (Mike Noble).

A change in mood unravels gradually, notably when Chadwick's retaliation toward his tormentor reveals a suffering far greater than that inflicted by mere childish bullying, and culminating in the understated and powerful transformation of William from self-doubting fantasist to an unstable, paranoid threat.

The dark and atmospheric sound design by Pete Rice does its bit to strengthen this disturbing exploration of the worst instincts of youth, imbuing scene changes with a deep rumbling of bass and piercing static that's appropriately difficult to endure.

Lack of any punk in the soundtrack is slightly conspicuous given the title, the score instead delivering brief, warped reconstructions of The White Stripes and Nirvana.

But what's captured so well here is the raw energy, dissidence and anger of punk, which simmers away under the surface before eventually boiling over into an absolutely gripping and tragic finale.

Run ends Saturday