On Saturday October 7, Rye Creative Centre presented an interesting alternative to the recent Rye Arts Festival, with a production of “Highly Inflammable”, part of the Hastings Fringe. It was funded by Arts Council England and written by local writer Cheryl White. It is a play set in equally explosive eras – 1977 (the battle of Lewisham took place with 4000 anti-National Front demonstrators clashing with NF marchers) and post-Brexit Britain.
The story is about two teenage girls whose friendship is ruined by intolerance, racism and idealism set to the punk music of Poly Styrene who formed the X-Ray Spex band, who released their critically acclaimed debut album Germfree Adolescents in 1978. Poly died of cancer in Hastings where she had lived since 2001, in April 2011.
The relationship between the teenagers is very close and they do everything together, supporting each other when necessary. Jenny (Megan Barham) is a punk fan, a free spirit who wants to be in a band and conquer the world.
She goes on marches, fighting for equality. Her friend Sophie (Melanie Wilder) is the opposite, from rich parents and in Jenny’s eyes, racist and mostly only interested in fashion. But the two somehow are able to come to terms with their differences because they are able to be honest and confront those differences until one night when, at a punk party, Sophie goes too far and they fall out. There is a sadness but one has to respect Jenny’s principled stand and integrity. Many years later we learn that after school they lost touch. When Sophie dies, about 55 years old, Jenny shows us her regret for the delay of not contacting her earlier.
This was one of three very different shows at the weekend and puts the Creative Centre back on the map under the guidance of a new manager.
The next must visit at the venue is the “Feast of Delights”, Makers’ and Designers’ Fair, Saturday and Sunday November 25 – 26, 10am-4pm. There will be music throughout the weekend, a “Winter Salon” exhibition in the gallery and tea/coffee/home-baking will also be available.
Photo: John Parsons