Content Warnings: The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return

The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return is a coming of age comedy/drama that deals with the joy of adolescence along with its challenges, particularly in working class communities. The piece explores how unchecked anger resulting from an environment that is suffocating can lead to violence and destruction. The show ultimately advocates for a hopeful way out of these situations, and advocates for a complete reformation of the systems of oppression in deprived communities. 

The play culminates in the stabbing of the lead character's best friend - it is depicted in a way in which no knife or blood is shown straying away from the narratives that glamorise such tragedies. The play also subverts the usual working class narratives that end in a tragic death by having him survive the stabbing, giving young people hope for a better future. Both characters end up enrolling in university in the end, and are excited for what will come next in their lives. 

The play was based on the writer's lived experience of growing up in a working class community and losing some friends to knife crime. It is also based on interviews we conducted with parents who have lost their children to knife violence, who have forgiven the culprit due to a deep sense of understanding of the circumstances that lead to young people carrying knives - fear. It is a fear that results from a lack of support and proper awareness of the dangers associated with carrying a knife. This is why we have partnered up with The Ben Kinsella Trust who have trained us to deliver our workshops in an informed and effective way. It is really important to us that as well as providing an opportunity for young people to enjoy a quality piece of theatre that is mostly focused on the joy of youth, they also have the chance to engage with the darker themes of the play in a meaningful way through our workshop, raising awareness on the realities of knife violence in the process. 

- Vikesh Godhwani, Co-Artistic Director of Chalk Line Theatre

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact jen@jumpeduptheatre.com