Martha, Me and My Family – Unity Theatre

A lot of us dream of becoming rock stars, and Saphena Aziz, half Guyanese, half Indian, a wholly talented and original writer and performer, gets the chance to become a Vandella. That story is the hook but what reels you in is her family’s history, coupled with her ability to bring to life the different characters, from Martha, to her friends, to her redoubtable, valiant mother. At so many points, the audience was nodding in recognition, whether the volatility of family relationships or the fakeness of a telephone voice.  As for history – we do not know the half of it: slavery may have been abolished throughout the British Empire in 1833 – it was simply replaced by the insidious practice of indenture. But we all dream of escape, making it to a better life. Yet for too many people, it turns out to be a fire to frying pan scenario; trafficked, not transported, although of course, transportation also has connotations of people being shipped off to Australia. As they were to this country, like Saphena’s family.

She holds the audience spell-bound, in an amazing collaboration with Julia Samuels as Director and Laura Campbell, who makes an incredible job of Audio and Visual Design. The latter boils down to a completely bare stage, just the mic and a chair, while using music and a video screen to illustrate and enhance the experience. As does the humour, so the contrasting pathos hits all the harder: the display of her family’s faded photograph and official documents. Just as poignant, their many hardships. Her mother is unable to take up a chance-in-a-million scholarship because what do girls back then need with an education? An attitude which unbelievably prevails today in some parts of the world.  

Out of the blue, Saphena’s dreams stand a chance of being realized, until they turn sour. The proverbial garden path but here she is, bringing this show to life, showing us her life, which went on to be extremely successful.  The show was followed by a lively Q&A session with an appreciative, multicultural, packed-out audience which goes to prove that this should not just be a one-night show. Entertaining, educational – irresistible, touching everybody, our hearts and our minds, it needs to be on tour, reaching as many people as possible.

Reviewer: Carole Baldock

Reviewed: 14th April 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★