Showing @ Traverse, Edinburgh until Sat 26 Mar

Since the BNP vote increased to over half a million in the last general election, the Tory government have reinforced bigotry and racism amongst youths by introducing the immigration cap, instilling the idea that “immigrants are comin’ over ‘ere and takin’ our jobs”. Fact. Obviously. Director Christie O’ Carroll’s Bassett, performed by the Lyceum Youth Theatre, acutely explores the varying opinions of schoolchildren on war, but perhaps slightly overeggs its metaphors and themes.

After the supply teacher does a runner, the students of Wooten Bassett School find themselves locked in. With rising tensions about the (final) repatriation of a British soldier to take place in the town, the play begins to question how educated, forceful and conditioned the beliefs of our young people really are.

From the off it’s made clear racism and nationalism will at some point dictate the action. With the draped, lofted banners and Leo’s (Aaron Jones) jingoistic graffiti, the union jack is a symbol which is constantly emphasised and admired throughout. A different side to national pride is explored however when Spencer (Dan Kelsey) explains how wars such as WWII were necessary in the prevention of moral evil. But every character is a modern stereotype, from racist Leo to WAG-wannabe Kelly (Hannah Wade). And when Leo finally starts to lose the plot over how much disagreement the repatriation is causing – particularly from “the only Muslim in the school” Amid (Tom Palmer) – his psychotic explosion feels reminiscent of scenes in This Is England. While the play’s intention of questioning how young people’s beliefs have been shaped in a country perpetually at war is admirable, its stock characters and unnecessary racial undertones highlight an idea we already know: attitudes borne out of right-wing policy making only filter down to our children.