Generation FOMO is a new play by Isabelle Defaut exploring the experiences of young people using smartphones and social media and the impact on their mental health.
Consisting of interviews with students from the University of Kent as well as primary and secondary school pupils, talking about their relationships with their phones and social media and the impact this has had on their day to day lives.
Also included are the voices of parents/carers, teachers and mental health professionals highlighting their concerns of navigating this ever changing digital landscape.
All interviewees remain anonymous.
The research and development phase of Generation FOMO was funded by the Outreach department at the University of Kent. This concluded in a sharing in July to an invited audience on campus at the Aphra Theatre.
In November we were invited to perform the play as part of Whitstable Unplugged at the Horsebridge Arts Center hosted by Smartphone Free Childhood campaign.
We are currently seeking funding for the next stage of this project, involving the touring of primary and secondary schools, and family hubs in order to start a conversation between young people, parents/carers and educational professionals.
“Really powerful performance. We need to get this into schools.”
Stefan Peto, Deputy Head, Simon Langton Boys Grammar School
“The play should be shown in the lobby of the House of Commons. These kids’ voices are pleading with us to listen and to act.”
Audience member
“It’s more difficult to put the genie back into the bottle. By the time children have reached year 7, they know all too well about the dangers of smartphones.”
Audience member.
“I thought that the performance was incredibly powerful and enjoyable.”
Audience member (14 years old)
“Generation FOMO is an important and illuminating piece of verbatim theatre and a reality check for us all! This play is something everyone should see!”
Michelle Butler - Culture Development Officer, Canterbury City Council
Watch the trailer
BBC Radio Kent interview
During our first sharing of Generation FOMO at the University of Kent, Dominic King of BBC Radio Kent came to watch and interviewed writer and director Isabelle Defaut and audience members, which you can listen to here.
Audience feedback report from The School of Psychology at The University Of Kent.
Portrait Theatre has been working closely with Dr Lindsey Cameron of The School of Psychology. Lindsey and her team gathered all audience feedback from the two performances Generation FOMO has shared so far and they have produced this report which highlights the importance of the play and its subject matter and its need to be presented to a wider audience. The report is linked below.
