Chef – Traverse Theatre

Once again, The Traverse champions fresh, accessible writing; this time with Sabrina Mahfouz’s one-woman play Chef.  Set in a prison kitchen, the head chef walks us through her dream menu with a story to accompany each dish.  We see glimpses of the chef’s life and significant events which led up to her arrest; her troubled relationship with her father, the first kitchen she ran, illegal dealings with her seedy ex-boyfriend, living on a boat.  While the chef recounts her memories, her second-in-command in the kitchen acts as a BSL interpreter.  This immersive style of interpretation was refreshing to see, giving a character to the interpreter – including her rather than seeing her as a distraction.  Without the interpreter this play would somehow not be as poignant – the interpreter gave life to the kitchen and acted as a grounding presence to combat the chef’s emotional outbursts.

André Agius’ direction was bold and unapologetic, fitting nicely with the style of this play.  I was especially impressed by the use of the props around the kitchen – every prop was used with strong intention, bringing us out of the kitchen and into the story.

The lighting was powerful and added to the disorientation the chef felt when reliving her trauma-filled memories, emulating the lack of control she had in her life and thus emphasising the abundance of control the kitchen gave her, until it didn’t…

The sound design was strong although could be tweaked ever so slightly so the transitions from sound to silence run smoothly.

It’s no surprise to me that this won a Scotsman Fringe First award back in 2014 and is still being performed today.  It is a powerful experience that highlights the injustices and corruption within the judicial and prison system and the prejudices those fighting it face. This play was included in the Traverse’s £1 ticket deal in which those under 25 or those receiving low-income benefits can access a number of performances for just £1 (a deal which is very much relevant to his play) so be sure to keep an eye out for the next £1 performance at the Traverse.

Reviewer: Jessie Martin

Reviewed: 15th March 2025

North West End UK Rating: