Hands down, and pants off, Punk Rock is an excellent, rough and clever piece of performance theatre. The plays title needs a re-phrase, so don’t let it fool you into making any green tipped, Mohawk assumptions. Instead ditch your weekly dose of Skins for an episode of real, and in-yer-face theatre.

As I found out on Wednesday, the play follows a character-rich group of students as they approach their final days of high schooling, but more crucially, it explores emotionally loaded adolescent issues by the fistful. Originally delivered to a Manchesterian audience in 2009, Punk Rock received A+ reviews and, in my mind, the version up for view at Auckland's Basement Theatre deserves a very similar response.

Raw and relate-able, our local thespians sharpen the edge of Punk Rock’s pressurised tale. Grey Lynn resident, Nathan Mudge, executes the lead role as William Carlisle with such complex enchantment; it could inspire the bulkiest construction worker to try their luck on stage. All the players acted with similar riveting distinction.

A sophisticated and simple set design took heavy abuse from the cast while rave beats and dim flashing lights moved each scene along. The audience was divided in two and separated by the stage, which left no relief point for your eyes to wonder to. Thus as the school chums navigated issues such as mental illness, adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death, I was confronted by the other half of the audiences reactions - intensifying the charade.

Although the length of the play may test your patience, it was only when lights illuminated the audience and the cast bowed that I noticed the time. Light stretching aside, there’s something exciting about the dysfunctions and aspirations of youth. If it’s time you refreshed your own exam tensions and first love memories, Punk Rock is in session until April 7th. Pull your socks up and check it out.

By Vivienne Frances Long

Vivienne is an Auckland artist and art writer.

More info is available on the Basement Theatre website

March 27th - April 7th (No Show Monday April 2nd).