Human Nurture

How do you adapt difficult multifaceted conversations about race, identity and class to reflect modern, youthful experiences?

Human Nurture successfully explores this question with a touching, yet powerful, production. As part of the 50th anniversary programme of shows at Sheffield Theatres, Human Nurture kicked off emphatically at Sheffield Studio Theatre on Friday 28th January. Lucas Button (The Witcher) and Justice Ritchie, a recent graduate of Guildhall School of Music and Drama, star with powerful and assertive performances. Alongside them is DJ Neeta Sarl (Love Reign) and between the three of them, they are able to capture the audience’s hearts and minds over the productions hour long running time.

Human Nurture begins with the character Harry, as played by Lucas Button, meeting up with his old friend Runaku, played by Justice Ritchie, to celebrate Harry’s eighteenth birthday. What follows is a subtle, yet difficult conversation around how we tackle issues of race and class in the twenty-first century. However, it begins by effectively and slowly peeling back the curtain between the inner dynamics of the relationship between Harry and Runaku. Often with humour, we explore their shared experiences growing up. Through this we are able to empathise and relate to the characters, giving us scope to understand and appreciate the important issues that are raised further on.

By utilising a youthful perspective and witnessing the thread of a conversation, Human Nurture emphasises that the key message is about listening and trying to understand others. In doing this, we realise that this is not somebody else’s story being told to us but that it is our own story and our own experiences being mirrored back to us. In reminding the audience that it is often what we haven’t seen or haven’t experienced that matters most, Human Nurture challenges the audience to look inwards and ask themselves difficult questions.

None of this would be possible, however, without the powerful and commanding performances delivered by Button and Ritchie. With only each other to feed from, they rely on each other to keep the performance captivating. Without their clear chemistry and trust in each other, Human Nurture would not be nearly as effective as it turns out to be. Sarl keeps things moving with an incredible dynamism to her musical contributions and sound effects. Silence is used to create devastating moments of power, such as when Harry declares that “I can’t be racist because my best friend is black.” Followed by an excruciatingly deathly silence, this moment stands as the centre point of the production. What follows is a powerful, relatable and often funny exploration of racism and class in the twenty-first century and a valuable insight for both young and old.

Watching Human Nurture is an opportunity to be a part of an important ongoing dialogue about race, identity and class and a chance for us all to try understand our current times, alongside each other, just a little bit better. Catch Human Nurture at Sheffield Studio Theatre until February 12th.