Although theatre is a form of entertainment, it is also an amazing form of education and this comes across in Theatre Centre’s performance of Birds and Bees.

This story follows four characters - Aarron, Maisie, Leilah and Billy – who wind up stuck together in detention. After it is discovered that they are there because of an incident involving the release of some explicit photos around their school, the characters are then pushed into a debate over ‘whose fault it is’. The debate escalates when the students are asked to write a letter to the school apologising and making a statement against the actions of their classmates. We are then presented with difference sides of the story. 

Not only are the cast of this show incredibly talented and passionate, but the story also deals with a lot of issues in today’s society, in relation to the sexual and relationship education of young people. The show raises a lot of questions and makes an attempt to debunk the insensitive and false ideas around femininity, masculinity, sexual education and the LGBTQ+ community. 

Not only that but it also deals with themes of identity, consent and mental health, which all have a strong position in the world we currently live in. And though it tackles some serious issues that need to be addressed and considered, the performance also has moments of comedy, with pure and realistic acting performances, that make the message stand out even more. As well as this, the use of being filmed in the round is extremely well done – it allows for the message to always be in the centre of the room with no place to hide. 

This show is incredibly relevant for the times that we live in. Towards the end of the performance, we see the characters consider the need for change in regard to sexual education in school, which is something that we can all agree on, Besties. 

We live in a society where it is okay to be more than one thing – and this should be accepted. Because, at the end of the day, it does not matter if you are heterosexual, gay, bisexual, transgender or anything else. People are people, and they should have free say and free reign over who they want to be. 

But the change must be in the education that young people receive – to teach one type of sexual relationship is to exclude a large group of people who deserve to be included in these conversations. And instead of having conversations that are awkward and rushed due to discomfort, these conversations should be celebrated and embraced. 

Because, at the end of the day Besties, how can we expect the younger generations to be kind and inclusive, if they are the ones being excluded?

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Megan Webb

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.