Mahad Ali’s new play follows two refugee brothers, Aman and Hassan (Tapiwa Mugweni, Tito Williams) finding new life in a UK coastal town. Their new home is the local Bed and Breakfast owned by father and son; Bill Bradley and Aidan (Phillip Wright, Oscar Adams). Undergoing the stress of his father’s failing business, Aidan invites the brothers to stay in one of their rooms, much to his father’s concerns. We follow the rise of Aidan and Aman’s sweet romance; although Aidan struggling with his depression, he is pulled into new territories and told to face them as Aman says ‘we face forwards, not backwards’. Hassan’s main focus is to make as much money as he can, only to send it back to his wife and child. An unexpected friendship brings Hassan and Bill together in the form of running, Bill begins to let go of his prejudices and starts seeing Hassan as a friend. The conflict of prejudice is never too far with Bill’s closest friend Linton Hughes (Peter Eastland), standing in as a local hero in the general election. Linton makes it continuously clear that he has prejudice against Aman and Hassan but only becomes more dangerous when fighting for a platform within local government.
This production was a slow burner focusing deeply on the affect we create based on our actions, held in a minuscule coastal town it only further prods at the damage of hate within tiny communities. Although the action was slow, the tension was at constant boiling point as the relationships between characters always felt the pressure of the town, the watching eyes and the judgemental whispers. This is something Aman admits to being used to however the new platform this has placed Bill onto gets too much for him. Ultimately Bill feels it only right that they leave the hotel but Aman pushing Bill one final time causes him to snap and accidentally stabs Hassan, his prodigy. Yet, you are left feeling hopeful as Aidan steps up and decides to leave with Aman; he has embraced this new confidence and chooses Aman.
This production almost felt like an indie film, in that the relationships were so closely inspected and tested by conflict but never dramatic. It felt extremely close to life, which was really beautiful. The environment of a vast ocean and soggy weather was made so clear that I believed Aman’s frustration at the nothingness that surrounded him.
The conflict with the environment came only at the design, I felt it hindered more than excelled the piece. We change location many a time but the transitions between these felt slightly unclear and rather than seeing the vast ocean view we were sucked into a claustrophobic stone wall that made the new locations quite hard to grasp onto.
Overall, this production was a joy to watch particularly as the cast brought such beautiful qualities out in their characters. I would watch again and again for the small moments shared between Aman and Aidan, equally Bill and Hassan for their new found friendship in the queue at Lidl. This felt like real life, it was incredibly moving.
Playing until 4th March, https://theatre503.com/
Reviewer: Alice Rose
Reviewed: 22nd February 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★