Sister Radio – Traverse Theatre

43 Years in 80 minutes – Sister Radio has the silence speak volumes.

The sinister silence between sisters or the ignorant silence of a nation. Sister Radio skilfully explores themes of familial bonds and displaced families during its short runtime.

 The story follows a tale of two Iranian sisters. They live the same routine day in and day out – making coffee, reading tea leaves, and listening to the radio. When the audience is first introduced to them, they are elderly and stuck in an everlasting silence – never talking to one another. Once the global lockdown has taken affect, the sisters are forced to grapple with their past and remember the sins that changed their relationship forever.

Often shifting from the present to the past, we see how the sisters initially came to live together. It is only in the past we ever see the sister talk to each other. This, along with short glitches heard through the radio, allowing the audience to see what once was. A constant staple in the background is the voice on the radio. It documents the Islamic revolution in the late 1970s through to modern day and the coronavirus outbreak. In the past, Shirin (Nalân Burgess) expresses her frustrations and her wish to join the protest, to help the revolution. Her passion towards the political upheaval mirrors that of today and the current situation in Iran.

This excellent two-hander is delivered beautifully by Nalân Burgess and Lanna Joffrey (Fatema). They bring the words to life and exceed in capturing the breakdown of a close relationship, even if it is verging into soap opera territory at times.

The performances sell the show, however, the complexities of depicting two different times on stage does complicate the play. Despite the lighting and change in demeanour, it is not always clear where or when we are in the story, leading to clunky shifts in tone.

Overall, Sister Radio is a well-crafted two-hander with a clear message and something important to say. It both explores a deep bond between sisters while also holding up a mirror to the current situation people in Iran are facing and what they are fighting for.

Reviewer: Lucy McGuire

Reviewed: 10th November 2022

North West End UK Rating: ★★★