Under My Barbie Duvet

A Taking Part Response to Nora: A Doll’s House

‘So that you guys don’t miss out for a single second I’ve decided that I’m going to stream our date. That’s right! Tune in at 5pm on Saturday 15th when it will go LIVE.’

Intro, intro, introoooo. Shirelle’s sixteen, from South and the most influential YouTuber in London. Or at least, in Lambeth. It’s Valentine’s Day and she’s got a date with some leng guy who lowkey slipped into her DMs. She’s told her mum she’s revising but Shirelle’s gone silent and her friends are starting to worry…

Written for Brixton's Baytree Centre and IRMO, and as a response to discussions of themes in Nora: A Dolls House, Under My Barbie Duvet explores female agency, friendship and how we measure self-worth in a world under social media’s siege. Originally written as a piece of live theatre, the creative team have combined online filming, stop-motion animation and original music to ingeniously reimagine the piece for a digital audience at this time of social distancing. It forms part of a year-round Taking Part programme which works for and with the local community to explore artistic responses to the work on the Young Vic stages. The Young Vic Taking Part programme creates space for, amplifies and celebrates typically underrepresented voices and stories.

Please note, this digital scrapbook contains mild swearing, as well as mild reference to sex and under-age drinking. It is recommended for ages 13+

Cast & Creatives

Participants - Ria, Misha, Million, Sophia, Luam, Ines, Muna, Lesley, Ikhlas, Nya, Salma, Warda, Aliyah, Waliyah, Deirdrian, Berenice, Kadeanne

Written by Annie Jenkins
Directed by Caitriona Shoobridge & Matt Kay
Design & Animation: Basia Bińkowska
Sound Design: Nwando Ebizie
Assistant Director: Ashleigh Sobowale
Stage Manager: Joanne Woolley
Guitars & Bass performed and engineered by Nicholas Alexander

With thanks to The Baytree Centre, IRMO and High Trees Community Development Trust.

Supported by Audible, with additional support from the John Thaw Foundation.