Review: Enough, Lion and Unicorn Theatre

Camden Fringe

It’s been a confusing few weeks to be a police officer. One moment you are getting people supporting you, arguing that ‘if a copper can’t kick a suspect in the head how’s he meant to do his job?’, whilst just weeks later the same people are probably the ones throwing bricks at you as you defend a hotel from being set alight. No wonder there’s recruitment issues, with such contradictions going on. Who would want the job? Or more appropriately, how can they attract the right people to the job, rather than the Neanderthals currently there, who are now slowly being exposed.

Enough has its own set of contradictions to contend with. New police recruit Irie (Riah Amelle), a woman of colour, is repeatedly told by her colleagues that she needs to “be one of us” but in the next breath is hearing talk of “your lot”, undoubtably a reference to her ethnicity. What makes the treatment she receives all the more surprising is that it’s from female colleagues; fellow constable Christine and Sergeant Toni (Emily Hunter and Gemma Green).

There are plenty of other contradictions going on as well. The Sergeant laments the lack of respect for what they do and that young officers don’t want to put in the work, yet she sees nothing incongruous in how she treats the new recruit.

The play is written as a response to the way police dealt with the Sarah Everard candlelit vigil, their heavy-handed approach in breaking up a peaceful vigil in total contrast to the way they dealt with the police officer who murdered Everard. So, at first glance, it is a strange decision to cast the play with three female characters and then choose to focus instead on the racism present. But as things progress, and especially when we reach the final scene, that decision is more than vindicated, highlighting that whilst the historic racism within the force has been greatly (but clearly not completely) eradicated, the misogyny has not.

The play zips along, scenes coming thick and fast at times, almost as if parroting the non-stop nature of policing. But it pauses for breath when necessary, allowing time to appreciate the stress of the job as we see a more human side to the officers. Whilst the action moves along at a good pace, the staging is not so smooth. The constant moving of a bar seems unnecessary and clunky as actors lift it to and fro.

There’s a fluidity to the play and cast that is no doubt due to its previous outings, including at Manchester Fringe where it picked up a Best Drama award. But it’s Amelle who stands out as the enthusiastic (at least early on) new recruit, sure she can make a difference, ignoring for a long time the jibes aimed at her by her more jaded colleagues.

Not directly focusing on the misogyny actually creates space for a much more effective response. As the shocking final scene plays out, there’s an audible gasp from members of the audience when the truth hits home. After that gasp there’s a moment’s silence before we dare to clap at the conclusion, as if all needing time to take in just what has happened. Enough is a powerful piece of theatre that needs to be part of the conversation about outdated attitudes.

Written by: Emily Hunter
Directed by: Kitty Ball
Produced by: Gemma Green for Moonstone Theatre

Enough played as part of Camden Fringe.

Read more about this show in our recent interview here.