Nowadays divorces are just as common as getting married.
Sadly, as divorces gets so much a part of our everyday life, we seem to forget how truly horrible it is to a child to go through.
C:NTACT is here to remind us.
Unbreakable. The young actors on stage use each other as scenary.
The fund is known to let young people act their personal (and not too happy) stories out live on stage. The result is usually heartbreaking, earth-shattering and impressing. The current play “Not Suitable for Children” is no exception. From the rough and dark stage at Betty Nansen Theatre they all shed a light into the dark heart of a divorce. Intensely they ask their parent NOT to get into war … again. Because even as a teenager it is not unlikely that you have already gone through a divorce twice.
No divorces are the same. People are different, and feelings are always mixed. That is why it is so damn hard to find a good script to follow when family life comes chrashing down.
Songs, music and dance helps the heavy divorces through the play.
On stage, we meet Marek, Kimmie, Frederikke, Alexander, Julie and about 20 other young people. Whether their childhood homes have been broken by domestic violence, adultery, different dreams or lost love among their parents their stories leave a feeling of guilt.
Who is to blame when Mum and Dad can’t make it work any longer? And who is responsible? The parents? Or the teenager who accidentally started another fight among her parents – and regrets it all the way into her aching stomach as she looks back on it years later?
Dads knows it all, and his violent behaviour scares his children and wife.
The answer is not that evident as you might think. Reflections certainly come close as 47-year old Mum Sidsel lets us into her thoughts about getting a divorce after 21 years of marriage. Why? You are tired! You are not happy! Your children suffer! You will make your children divorced children! The divorce did go through, but not without adult tears.
Or think about the Arabian father who works 14 hours a day at a pizzeria to feed his many children, while he is struggling with low self-esteem, lost identity and troubles with learning Danish language. His children grow up to be fearful, criminals from a home of physical punishment. But, who dares to walk his shoes anyway?
No matter what you do, there is no happy ending 🙁
You are never alone with your divorce! Young actors share personal experiences.
Luckily, the play is not without humour. It shows how silly Mum and Dad act towards each other, when they need to get their new families work with way too many brothers, sisters and holidays to keep track of. Despite the funny parts, this journalist could not help to shed a tear for all the unhappy families out there (and yes, my parents are actually still married after 35 years).
Never forget that our free adult choices in relationships will always be the destiny of our children. Please.
C:NTACT has free tickets to collect until the 18th of January.
Read more about C:NTACT and the play on Facebook.
