Punk Rock (Lunatix Theatre), at Meat Market Stables - 110 minutes, with no interval

Being a teenager ... trying to make your way in the world … can be challenging and scary.

So it is in 2008 for this group of seven Year 12 students at high achieving Stockport Grammar.

Photos by Leo Cherry

Stockport is a town near Manchester, where playwright Simon Stephens grew up. Punk Rock was inspired by his own experiences as a teacher.

While trying to navigate the pressures of teen life, the students are soon to sit their practice end of year exams.

A new girl, Lilly Cahill (Maddie Richards), who has moved around extensively, has just arrived.

William Carlisle (Columbus Lane) befriends her the first day and takes an immediate shine to her.

William has never had a girlfriend, but plucks up the courage to ask her out, only she gently rejects his overture.

He has far deeper problems, including hearing noises in his head and lying.

Lilly is attracted to another student, Nicholas Chatman (Matthew Poggi), who takes his studies seriously and works out.

Bennett Francis (Luke Hill-Smith) doesn’t much care about anything or anyone. He is the class bully, who enjoys humiliating others.

Among his targets is class brainiac Chadwick Meade (Lachlan Herring), who is deeply concerned about nuclear annihilation.

Nice “fat girl” Tanya Gleeson (Grace McLaughlin) also faces Bennett’s devastation.

In truth, no-one is spared his ire, including his girlfriend, Cissy Franks (Kaitlin Devine). 

She is used to getting straight As and feels the heat from her parents to continue to do so. Her objective is to escape her small-town existence.

Punk Rock is anarchic and takes place over a short and stressful period.

The mood is one of discontentedness, even though there are some, more positive attempts among a small number of students to move ahead with their lives.

The atmosphere is established with the black and white footage of destruction shown between scenes on the side wall of the theatre, prefacing different dates the pupils interact.

An eighth character, psychologist Dr Richard Harvey, appears in the final scene and is played by a different person each show.

What struck me immediately was the uniformly excellent and intense level of performance. These actors are heavily invested in their roles.

As Columbus Lane, William Carlisle sets the tone with what is clearly a significant personality disorder.

As Lilly Cahill, Maddie Richards is dismissive of self-harm.

The vitriol that cascades from Luke Hill-Smith’s lips as Bennett Francis is frightening.

Lachlan Herring so well realises Chadwick Meade, whose acceptance of Bennett’s barbs, while the others look on, is equally chilling.

And on it goes. Each of the students is so very well formed by the respective cast members.

Individually and collectively, they leave an indelible (and favourable) impression.

The creative set design by Sarah Ryan sets the scene for the damage that underpins the play’s conceit. She achieves much with little.

There is a great deal to unpack in Stephen’s compelling script, which director Jay Wood brings to life with precision.

Punk Rock examines youth disconnection and search for meaning and purpose without compromise. It is raw, gritty and unrelenting.

Be prepared to be shocked and appalled, but – like me – engaged all the way.

Lunatix Theatre’s production is on at Meat Market Stables until 21^st September, 2025.