CALLBOARD: Resistance isn’t Reckless: Coming of Age in a Time of Unrest

Mimi Martin, Playwright and Performer of Youth in Flames

I began writing Youth in Flames as a way of preserving something personal: a record of my time growing up in Hong Kong. What began as a love letter to the city soon became something else: a reckoning with the unrest I witnessed there, and with how that experience continues to shape the way I view protest, power, and resistance. 

I moved to Hong Kong when I was ten, staying until I completed my studies. When I returned to London, I was struck by how little people in the UK seemed to know about Hong Kong’s political story. For many, awareness came through filtered headlines or token media coverage. But I had lived it; I was in the immediacy of it. It was a sobering experience: witnessing Hong Kong’s autonomy slowly being stripped away, seeing young people hospitalized for protesting, and watching local media being silenced day by day. Though I’m not a local Hong Konger, I felt compelled to keep the city’s story alive and to spark conversations about the risks young people take when they stand at the forefront of change.

To give more context, Hong Kong is a former British colony which was handed back to China in 1997. From that time, Hong Kong has worked under the “Basic Law,” the principle being “one country, two systems.” For the next 50 years, Hong Kong’s judicial and legal system would be separate from China, including rights for freedom of assembly, freedom of press, and freedom of speech. This has been set to expire in 2047. But in April 2019, Chief Executive Carrie Lam proposed an extradition bill that would allow for criminal suspects from Hong Kong to be extradited to Mainland China under certain circumstances. 

The reaction was immediate. The Hong Kong public feared that the bill would give China greater influence silencing activists, targeting journalists, and eventually eroding the city’s autonomy. What began as peaceful marches quickly escalated into violent clashes between protesters and police. Tear gas became commonplace. Protesters were rebranded as “rioters,” a label designed to delegitimize the democratic demands at the heart of the movement. Calls for greater freedoms were reframed as threats to national security. I watched, alongside many others, as the city transformed almost overnight and with it, the lives of those brave enough to take to the streets.

Young people have always been at the forefront of change. Youth in Flames reveals not only the courage and determination of Hong Kong’s youth but also the price they pay for refusing to stay silent. While some dismissed their actions as naïve or misguided, the reality was more complex: many in the older generation chose silence or inaction. The burden of resistance fell on young shoulders, often leading to hospitalizations and arrests. Behind every protest, every act of defiance, are people fighting for a future they believe in. Resistance isn’t reckless; it’s necessary.

Theater must keep pushing boundaries. Youth in Flames is an invitation: to remember Hong Kong, reflect on the devastation happening around us, and stay vigilant about how protest and dissent are being redefined. It isn’t an answer, but it’s the beginning of a conversation. 

The success of our debut at Edinburgh Fringe showed that audiences refused to look away, that people around the world are still fighting for their democratic voice and freedom. Bringing Youth in Flames to New York is a continuation of that: amplifying Hong Kong's voice, sharing the truth of what happened, and honoring those who fought for their freedoms. I can’t capture every detail of Hong Kong’s political journey, but I hope to provide a window that encourages audiences to learn more, to not become complacent, and to share their support. It reflects a collective experience during a pivotal moment in the city’s history. Youth in Flames isn’t just my story. It’s Hong Kong's story. 

Youth in Flames runs from June 7 - 28, 2026. Buy tickets here.

Header image: Mimi Martin in Youth in Flames. Photo by Beckett Guimaraes-Tolley.