The horrific events that took place in Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia) under the Khmer Rouge between 1975 – 79 are well documented, but writer Jack MacGregor has – to good effect -dramatised a true, less well-known incident from 1978. An idealistic Scots professor, simply referred to as ‘Stranger’ (played by Bobby Bradley) managed to grab 15 minutes with Pol Pot, or ‘Brother No 1’ (David Lee-Jones). With him was ‘American’ (Nicole Cooper), armed with enough knowledge of the atrocities to remain somewhat less effusive.
This piece explored the (chiefly Marxist) motivation and ambition shared, initially, by Stranger and Brother, the notion that there was a way to create an egalitarian, agrarian utopia. Upon a simple platform covered in white sheets the three actors performed this intense script with total conviction, no doubt partially a result of some intelligent rehearsal and direction by Andrea Ling. The sound design (Ross Nurney) was appropriately atmospheric and disturbing, the lighting (Ross Kirkland) lending a level of menace as the set was plunged into red-hued shadows at points. It was well-paced with a new layer peeled from Stranger’s eyes every few minutes as a discussion controlled by Brother turned from charm to menace and back again. A constant presence was the desperate pleading American, who could see where things were heading as Stranger’s academic theories crunched abhorrently into dictatorial reality. Not content with ‘dividing, dehumanising and destroying’ people and cities, Pot is hell-bent on eradicating history in his attempt to return to ‘Year Zero’. What’s fascinating about this portrayal of the dictator is, unlike some of the monsters roaming our planet right now peddling ‘a story about lies, accepting them, believing them and repeating them’, it’s possible to believe that Pot set about his hideous process because he genuinely thought it would work. That Stranger’s passion turns to disillusionment confirms it didn’t.
A powerful rendering of a moment that still leaves one uneasy; what happened next in real life minutes after this meeting is still disputed.
Reviewer: Roger Jacobs
Reviewed: 16th September 2025
North West End UK Rating: