Student teacher Sam arrives at Redhill Youth Custody Secure Unit hoping to enrich the troubled resident’s lives there by introducing them to the subject of Philosophy. The wary class resist engaging in this alien, ancient art of thinking, at first, but start to thaw when they find themselves being challenged and empowered in ways they haven’t previously experienced. Yet the hope Sam’s teaching offers them is fragile, particularly for hard fronting Gee, who’s on the verge of being released from the unit and is secretly terrified at this prospect.

The Animals looks at education within the Youth Custody System and the difficulties young people there face.

Age Guidance: 15+  Content Guidance:  Strong language, mild sexual references, allusion to suicide (offstage), reference to self-harm (unseen), references to youth violence, references to drug use (unseen/offstage) and allusions to gang involvement