Hot Chicks review – scorching account of county lines exploitation
What a punchy play. Rebecca Jade Hammond has written a disturbing county lines drama that questions our stereotypes of groomers, itemises insidious techniques of manipulation and considers the neglect that leaves children vulnerable. But Hammond has also written a boisterous comedy about teenage girls who take feet pics for OnlyFans and share TikTok dance crazes and Las Vegas pipe dreams in a Swansea chicken shop. As director Hannah Noone's well-calibrated, 75-minute production switches from humour to terror, the rush from a soundtrack featuring Charli xcx is replaced by gnawing silence.
Hot Chicks is the name of the WhatsApp group that 15-year-old besties Ruby and Kyla start with the smooth Sadie who walks into their fast food spot one day and becomes … what, exactly? She's too old for their friend group, could just about be their mother, but assumes both roles before also becoming their boss. In front of the pair, who can't afford a box of chicken and chips between them, Sadie casually flaunts her designer labels and brings in a bag of last season's clothes as hand-me-downs. Ruby's eyes widen as she picks up a sparkly jacket – soon she and Kyla are trying on Sadie's lifestyle, too, with the rewards of drug running.
Between them, Londiwe Mthembu (Ruby) and Izzi McCormack John (Kyla) convey a spectrum of teenage innocence and experience akin to the characters in Sophie Ellerby's slow-burning 2019 play Lit. Ruby clowns around with the abandon of a child relieved to not be at home, where the fridge is empty and her father is unpredictable. Kyla has more front, openly suspicious of Sadie (Rachel Redford) yet similarly enticed by her wealth.
At this final preview performance, the shifting dynamic between the trio is horribly compelling as Sadie flatters, cajoles, scolds and sympathises with the girls, learning intimate details of their lives in order to exploit them. Only two scenes – a command to lick the floor and a lesson in kissing – require some fine-tuning for full impact. Richard Elis is equally good as Cheney, who runs the shop, sketches in some local history and is both foil and father figure for the girls yet ultimately proves as vulnerable too.
Tic Ashfield's sound and Katy Morison's lighting set a stark tone, the harsh neon glare a cut-price equivalent of the Vegas glitz the girls crave. Similarly exposing is Hannah Wolfe's traverse set design, with the glass shopfront at one end and Cheney's counter at the other. All of it evokes a hollowness the girls feel, exacerbated by chasing likes and social media comparisons, duly exploited by Sadie.
This is an alarming drama, even if the coda to the Sherman and Grand Ambition's co-production frames the cycle of abuse a little too neatly. The scene that immediately precedes it has a devastating power and gives another sense to the play's 'chicks'. When one of the characters makes their final exit, I was reminded of what Arthur Miller said about the end of A Streetcar Named Desire – that when Blanche leaves the stage in Williams's play, we go right along with her.
At Sherman theatre, Cardiff, until 5 April. Then at Swansea Grand theatre, 16-25 April.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edinburgh Live
31 minutes ago
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh residents baffled as streets become 'dystopian future' for film set
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Edinburgh residents opened their windows to find themselves in the future, after a film set transformed the city streets. Those in the old town will have spotted cast and crew on set, with several spots in the area taken over for filming. The Warner Bros set is understood to be JJ Abrams upcoming movie, Ghostwriter. It's rumoured to have a cast including the likes of Samuel L Jackson, Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega and Emma Mackey. While details have been kept under wraps, the film is said to be a sci-fi story that tells of a writer whose fictional, futuristic world turns out to be very much real. Production is also said to be happening in London. Spots in Edinburgh such as West College Street, Merchant Street, and Chambers Street are being used as filming locations. On Tuesday, Candlemaker Row was transformed into a dystopian set, with residents impressed One posted to TikTok: "POV - you're walking around Edinburgh and enter a dystopian future." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Another resident responded: "Warner Bros trucks have been seen in the city along with a couple of big actors." A second asked: "Most important question, will this affect Greggs opening time?" Locals first spotted the cast and crew setting up in Holyrood Park. It's understood that the film is set for release in 2026, though this is yet to be confirmed. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. One lifelong Samuel L Jackson fan claims to have had an interaction with his hero while the star is here filming in Edinburgh. Matt's partner, Rosie, told Edinburgh Live: "Matt finally had his dream come true this week when the legendary actor was spotted filming scenes for his new movie Ghostwriter in the city. "Determined not to miss his hero, Matt camped out for 15 hours near the filming location with snacks, a fold-up chair, and unshakable optimism. Armed with only hope and a homemade sign that read 'I've had it with these motherlovin' waits!' he finally got the moment he'd waited a lifetime for."
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Original Big Brother stars now from Nasty Nick's very different new life to huge business success
From yoga retreats to consulting firms, the ex-housemates from the first-ever Big Brother have led very different lives since the show ended. Back in the summer of 2000, British TV changed forever when 10 strangers walked into a house in Bow, East London, and let the nation watch their every move. Big Brother Series One was a cultural reset - long before memes, Love Island or TikTok, this was the show that got the nation talking and getting together to vote. With just one eviction a week, Friday night live shows, and no outside communication, Big Brother 1 made Craig, Anna, Melanie, and of course, 'Nasty Nick' household names in the pre-social media age. But what became of the OG housemates after the cameras stopped rolling? Here's what the Class of 2000 are up to now - from building empires and raising families to escaping to Argentina for a quieter life. Craig Phillips He entered the house as a builder from Liverpool, but walked out of Big Brother as the UK's very first winner. Just days after pocketing the £70,000 prize money, he made headlines by donating the lot to his friend Joanne Harris, who needed a life-saving heart and lung transplant. Within six days of his win, the target was met thanks to a national outpouring of generosity and celebrity backing. Post-BB, Craig carved out a niche as a DIY expert, fronting dozens of home makeover shows like 60 Minute Makeover, Trading Up, and Big Strong Boys. In 2000, he even released a charity single 'At This Time of Year', which hit No.14 in the UK charts and raised over £40,000 for the Down's Syndrome Association. He went on to launch a production company, Avent Productions, and became a familiar face on Discovery Realtime and the Forces Broadcasting Service. In more recent years, Craig and his wife Laura run the successful Mr and Mrs DIY YouTube channel, helping fans tackle home improvements with a smile. They married in 2018, have two children, and appeared on Millionaire Age Gap Love in 2020. Anna Nolan A lesbian ex-nun wasn't your average reality show contestant in 2000 - and that's exactly why Anna Nolan stood out. She finished as runner-up and quickly became known for her calm presence in the house, often mediating during tense moments (including Nick's downfall). After Big Brother, Anna transitioned into broadcasting - presenting BBC series like Anna in Wonderland and Closure, before heading back to Ireland where she co-hosted The Afternoon Show on RTÉ for three years. She's fronted everything from paranormal documentaries to food shows. Behind the scenes, Anna built a strong career as a producer and development executive. She helmed shows like Room To Improve, Operation Transformation, and The Great Irish Bake Off, and as of 2024, she's Head of Development at COCO Content, producing major TV events. Darren Ramsay Third-place finalist Darren Ramsay brought quiet charm and earnestness to the Big Brother house - but after the show, he largely retreated from the limelight. He popped up on shows like Good Food Live and The Weakest Link, and even trained as a flight attendant for TV show Airline - though he was asked to leave before qualifying. Today Darren lives a relatively private life, working a 9-5 job at a research company. Melanie Hill Mel was one of the most talked-about contestants in the house - and not just because of that romance with fellow housemate Tom. She left the show and immediately dived into journalism, writing for The Guardian and fronting E4 series Chained. But her experience wasn't all glitz. In a 2002 open letter titled 'How Big Brother Destroyed My Life', Mel spoke candidly about the media scrutiny and public harassment she endured. She later urged women not to audition for the show, revealing the mental toll of sudden fame. She went on to become a marketing director, and today, Mel is a mum to son Otis, who she shares with her partner Glenn. Tom McDermott Tom's time in the house is probably best remembered for his relationship with Claire Strutton - the first Big Brother lovebirds. The pair had a son, Pierce, in 2001 and even moved to Marbella to run a property website together. They split in 2004, and Tom eventually returned to the UK where he now runs his own property business in Cornwall. Claire Strutton Once dubbed the house flirt, Claire has since become a successful entrepreneur. She's now married to businessman Ian Radford and the couple own a luxury beach resort in Marbella, along with a string of popular nightclubs in Gibraltar and Essex. Andy Davidson Andy was the second housemate evicted, but not before sharing a much-talked-about kiss with Melanie. He's long since swapped reality TV for the boardroom, working as Head of Client Strategy at Flamingo, a brand and insight consultancy in London. Caroline O'Shea Caroline brought plenty of sass and humour to the house, but her post-BB journey has been more unpredictable. It is said she returned to selling adult toys, briefly pursued a music career, and even posed for topless modelling offers. She has occasionally appeared in reality TV specials, including The Weakest Link and The Only Way Is Essex. She also tried her hand at acting and remains active on casting websites. Nichola Holt Nichola was known for her artistic streak and catchphrase 'It's just the game!' She released a dance single by that very name, though it only reached number 72 in the charts. She later married personal trainer Yas Parr in a swimsuit and sarong on a Mexican beach, but the couple split after 18 months. Now in her late 40s, Nichola lives in Bolton with her daughter and keeps a low profile away from the spotlight. Sada Walkington The first person ever evicted from Big Brother UK, Sada has embraced a very different path. She moved to Argentina, became a yoga instructor, and is raising twins, Indigo and Padma, born in 2005. She has publicly criticised the way she was edited on the show, claiming producers turned her into a 'dippy hippie' caricature. Her quiet new life abroad is a far cry from the frenzy of the Big Brother house - and it seems just how she likes it. Nick Bateman (Nasty Nick) Nick Bateman made TV history by trying to manipulate the nominations - and was famously confronted by Craig in what remains one of the most iconic live showdowns in British television. Since then, Nick has lived a much more low-key life. He popped up in a few reality specials, including Ultimate Big Brother, but nowadays lives in Australia and has left his reality TV past firmly behind him.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Addison Rae reveals shock name change after six years of fame
Addison Rae was a guest on Quen Blackwell's YouTube series Feeding Starving Celebrities on Sunday. While on the show, the 24-year-old burgeoning pop star — who catapulted to fame in 2019 as Addison Rae — discussed her unexpected name change. Six years into the spotlight, the TikTok sensation, born Addison Rae Easterling, is dropping the second half of her famous moniker. It comes days after she dropped her mononymous debut album, Addison, on June 6. She explained to Blackwell that she mulled over the LP title 'for a really long time,' explaining, 'When you do hear all of the music straight-through, there's not really a title that encompasses all of it.' Addison continued, 'Everybody that I played it to as well, they were just like, "Oh, it just sounds just like you. It just sounds like music you would make." 'I [didn't] really know what else to call it and so I was like, "Maybe, then, the album is just my name."' Quen offered: 'I like the fact that you are changing your stage name and taking off the Rae. Is that something you've talked about?' The Louisiana-bred music artist noted she hasn't spoken at length about her name switch, adding, 'But I said it in an interview, I was just like, "Oh, I think I've grown past just being called Addison Rae." And then the album being named Addison kind of was a tie-in for that.' She elaborated, 'Whoever knows me as Addison Rae and knew me as Addison Rae will always know me as that anyways.' And she admitted, 'I just am tired of also signing Addison Rae. It's really long.' 'I just would rather sign Addison,' she confessed with a laugh. 'And then I was like, "Yeah, it just makes more sense because it's going back to the roots, really."' The songstress then pointed out, 'But I know you're going to put Addison Rae on the title [of the YouTube video],' prompting Blackwell to mischievously side-eye the camera. @zanelowe The reason behind the name change @Addison #addison #addisonrae #identity #namechange #popmusic #zaneloweshow #applemusic ♬ original sound - Zane Lowe The star also chatted about dropping the latter half of her stage name during an interview with Zane Lowe. 'If you got introduced to me as Addison Rae, as most people did, I think you will always know me as that. 'But I think for me and what making music is doing, for just my own soul and heart, is bringing me back to the core of everything. 'Addison Rae, yes, is a part of me and that will always be a part of who I am. There are element of me that are obviously Addison Rae and encapsulate what people have created as who Addison Rae is,' the blonde beauty stated. She reiterated, 'But I think for me it was all about coming back to the center of it all, which is just Addison.'
