Regeneration

Synopsis

A council estate in southeast London, where concrete towers loom over lives teetering on the edge of change.

Tony, a mixed-race teenager, navigates the treacherous waters of identity and belonging as her pregnant mother Katrina grapples with an uncertain future. When Tony’s long-absent father Dad suddenly reappears, and Katrina’s volatile boyfriend Nick threatens to upend their fragile stability, the family’s tenuous bonds are stretched to breaking point.

The play is a raw, unflinching exploration of intergenerational trauma and the cyclical nature of poverty. Through a series of taut, naturalistic scenes punctuated by moments of startling lyricism, the play delves into the complexities of mixed-race identity, teenage sexuality, and the corrosive effects of neglect. The estate itself becomes a character, its oppressive presence a constant reminder of the characters’ limited horizons and the societal forces that shape their lives.