Review: It's My Party @ Unity Theatre
A joyful, innovative hour-long party with a vital message at its core
I’ve been quiet on here recently, mainly because I’ve been so busy with other things. However, I’ve made a couple of trips to the theatre over the last two weeks, so some reviews are in order.
My most recent theatre visit occurred yesterday to see RAWD’s latest show It’s My Party which is as joyous as it is hard-hitting and as brilliantly upbeat as it is emotionally thought-provoking. RAWD (Random Acts of Wildness Disability) is a company committed to supporting people with disabilities – getting their stories, perspectives, and talent onto the stage, and It’s My Party proves to be a vital, nuanced piece of theatre full of outlooks that are so often overlooked for no logical or justified reasoning.
Told through an original script, video, music and physicality, the primary purpose of It’s My Party is to portray to audiences how people with respective disabilities navigate their way through celebratory occasions. Drawing inspiration from the viral Assume That I Can advert as part of Global World Down Syndrome Day 2024, topics vary between inclusivity, accessibility, pre-conceptions and societal expectations. And with each of the sixteen cast members sharing their first-hand experiences of living with a disability, their audience are presented with an abundance of life lessons, humour, awareness and information, fully conducive to maximising equality and diversity within the arts and society in general.
A personal standout element of this production is how generous and candid each performer is in voicing their experiences, either within their performance or through the interview-like videography. The latter felt like a great means of transition throughout the show as well as an innovative way to incorporate interactivity and further accessibility from a visual and audible standpoint. This was also a lovely technique to gain deeper insight into each cast member – away from their roles as performers – often through their humorous anecdotes and individual opinions, backgrounds, and equality-promoting ideas.
What cannot go unsaid about It’s My Party is the sheer importance of it. Amongst all the fun and music of the play is a poignancy and necessity. Disability is not – and should not be viewed as – a barrier to any aspect of life. With RAWD’s particular focus on parties, every member of this company evidences ways in which society can do and should do better in ensuring that parties can cater to the needs of every attendee. Yet the reality of such evidence is this: it is all absolutely doable and there are no excuses for society falling short in maximising inclusivity and accessibility.
It's My Party is a great show full of great creatives with a great message. There’s a real sense of eclecticism in effectively conveying the essential message of this production. With an equal measure of importance and enjoyment, it would be difficult for any audience member not to leave the theatre feeling completely joyful and significantly more informed.
The second and final performance of It’s My Party takes place on Saturday 22nd June in Unity Theatre, Liverpool.