Heart Beats Strong at the Canada Water Theatre

Life today is far from simple, especially if you are just setting out in the world. There are so many pressures to conform, when all you need to do is to discover who you really are – something which even those of us who have found our way in life still often find difficult.

But it seems we needn't worry too much about at least three young members of the National Youth Theatre who are honing their skills in a beautifully presented but edgy exploration of adolescence.

In Heart Beats Strong at the Peckham Fringe, Alfie Wickham, Kai Porter and Noah Manzoor faced their fears and made audiences sit up and listen to what it is like growing up in today's world.

They hit the ground running with heartfelt stories of discovering their sexuality, relationships and how they perceive themselves. It was raw, poignant, funny and always honest, punctuated with powerful, innovative dance, the style of which they can call their own. It was perfectly choreographed, and let them express even more of their feelings.

Heart Beats Strong a mature piece and yet it's those tales of embarrassing moments, teenage awkwardness, first sexual encounters, longing for a father's attention, and dealing with being a 'brown Brit' which give it the vulnerability young people can identify with. It was well deserving of the standing ovations it received at each show and I'd like to see it at next year's Edinburgh Fringe.

Heart Beats Strong is a brave, bold and important piece which can only help young audiences realise they are not alone, and not weird. They belong. One of the most poignant moments for me was when Noah, in an imaginary conversation with his mother, says, 'Mum, are you proud of being brown?' She replies, 'Yes, because I'm proud of being me'.