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Review: Communion, Bush Theatre

If ever an antidote was needed to the racist demonstrations of the last week, Communion is it. A joyous, generous, emotional tour de force, created by the 18-25 Bush Young Company, it completely restores faith in humanity, or at least in this country’s younger generation. Eighteen young adults start the performance by constructing a long dining table in the middle of the stage. Carefully, and in silent synchronisation, they float the table cloth up, before laying it down. The ritual inherent in the act of sharing a meal acknowledged, they sit. With energetic banter and good natured humour, they…

Summary

Rating

Excellent

A joyous, energetic and inclusive cross cultural exploration of food rituals and the love that is generated from sharing a meal.

If ever an antidote was needed to the racist demonstrations of the last week, Communion is it. A joyous, generous, emotional tour de force, created by the 18-25 Bush Young Company, it completely restores faith in humanity, or at least in this country’s younger generation.

Eighteen young adults start the performance by constructing a long dining table in the middle of the stage. Carefully, and in silent synchronisation, they float the table cloth up, before laying it down. The ritual inherent in the act of sharing a meal acknowledged, they sit. With energetic banter and good natured humour, they tease one another. Taking it in turns each speaker leaps on to the table to command attention.

The table is then broken up to leave just one smaller table in the centre of the stage and the actors take it in turns to tell their own stories, some on their own, sometimes in small groups. The ensemble is made of many different cultures and identities. They share meals in friendship and love, as a means of maintaining their own cultural rituals and embracing others. From the gift of a kettle for a new home, to a coffee ceremony, or wisecracks in a chicken shop, to ways of cooking rice, their warmth envelopes the audience who start to laugh, nod in agreement at familiar cultural idiosyncrasies and sing along.

A culture is frequently defined by its food and the rituals surrounding it. The creation of food for another is often an act of love and this play is a constant reminder of the communal warmth that happens when you share a meal. To invite another to join your table, to come into your home, is to open your heart and embrace them and their differences.

Whilst there are several well-judged poignant moments, laughter and humour regularly ring out. A cross cultural recognition of the “special cupboard” where the best crockery and cutlery lie untouched for years is particularly well received and the audience join in with peals of laughter.

The effective traverse staging allows the actors to move freely and interact with both sides of the audience, often turning a head for affirmation before turning back the other way to check with the other side. Occasional video footage works well to emphasise the closeness of some of the friendships. And these are all phenomenal actors: confident and nuanced, they are able to communicate with body and voice every shade of emotion.

The very word ‘communion’ means the act or instance of sharing and this is the message that rings out loud and clear from this charming, vibrant, engaged performance. It’s hard to express the phenomenal amount of positive energy that it created and much celebration carried on in the bar afterwards when strangers talked to each other and bonds were formed. Much more than a play about sharing food, this is a piece that proactively generates an inclusive fusion of cross-cultural love and respect.


Devised by the 18-25 Bush Young Company and Katie Greenall
Directed by Katie Greenall

Communion plays at Bush Theatre until 10 August. Further information and tickets available here.

About Sara West

Sara is very excited that she has found a team who supports her theatre habit and even encourages her to write about it. Game on for seeing just about anything, she has a soft spot for Sondheim musicals, the Menier Chocolate Factory (probably because of the restaurant) oh & angst ridden minimal productions in dark rooms. A firm believer in the value and influence of fringe theatre she is currently trying to visit all 200 plus venues in London. Sara has a Master's Degree (distinction) in London's Theatre & Performance from the University of Roehampton.