Growing up in a rural Town can be challenging and for much of the time it is mind-numbingly “boring”, I remember it well also spending my teenage years growing up in a small Wiltshire village. DESTINY tells the heart breaking story of a 16 year old abandoned and lost in the system. Failed by most of the adults who she comes into contact with.

Destiny’s (Florence Espeut-Nickless) account of a horrendous sexual assault that she is subjected to on a night out is never graphically explained, the horrors are explained through feelings of drowning and the physical violence against her packs a powerful impact on the audience.

Many times listening to her accounts of how the adults in her life have seriously let her down and have failed to behave as decent adults, is described with a light-hearted giggle as though she expects to be treated this way because of where she lives. Yet we never hear if they are held to account for their abhorrent behaviour, which they certainly deserve to be.

Yet throughout all of the system failures and exploitation, she remains focused on a dream of becoming a dancer on MTV. Her attitude and outlook are incredible. Never showing any signs of resentment or bitterness which quite frankly she would be very entitled to be. Especially after the behaviour of her Mother who visited her in hospital after the horrendous attack, her heartless and reckless behaviour is despicable.

Sadly this story will echo many other teenage girls’ experiences growing up used and let down by a system created to protect them. Expect to be challenged and moved by this outstanding performance by Espeut-Nickless.

For more information or to watch the online production please use the link below. Please note DESTINY is only available until the end of March 2024.

Five Stars.

https://pentabus.co.uk/whats-on

Creative team

Writer

Florence Espeut-Nickless

Director 

Elle While (she/her)

Director

Rachel Lambert

Production Designer

Katie Sykes

Producer

Em Smith

Director of Photography

Mari Yamamura

Make-up Artist

Kathryn McCanny

Sound Design

Justin Dolby

Composer

Alex Fraser

Head of Production

Julie Colman

Executive Producer

Grant Black

Statement from writer and performer Florence Espeut-Nickless

Commenting on the final few weeks of the release, Florence Espeut-Nickless said, “To know
Destiny’s story is continuing to connect with people across the country and beyond feels
really special! When writing this play, the goal was always to ensure that young workingclass people from isolated, hidden communities (like Destiny) can access it. The film is truly
making that possible. At a time when arts education is being so savagely stripped back, it
feels vital that as artists, we help show young people the arts are for them, and that theatre
is an exciting and relevant art form!”