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An outstandingly well-written collection of short plays that interrogate political censorship within British theatre and beyond.Summary
Rating
Unmissable!
Can politics truly be separated from art? Despite its title, this collection of short plays isn’t attempting to offer an answer to this. Rather, it interrogates censorship within the arts with unapologetic anger, laying bare the problems that exist for staging political plays in the current industry.
The eleven short plays are all written by different playwrights, emerging as a direct response to the suppression of voices in British theatre. Whilst the majority focus on the conflict in Palestine and Israel, other works look to Sudan and Britain’s own colonial history, covering themes of censorship, political apathy and the atrocities of conflict. Emotionally driven, each play is heavy hitting, pushing its audience to introspectively examine their own relationship with politics and art.
Plays that stand out include The Florist of Rafah, offering a poignant monologue on the effects of displacement and conflict on Palestinians, and Suitable Subjects, that stages the introductory meeting between parents and a man’s girlfriend, where political apathy causes tension. 46 Women Attempt a Question is also powerful, dedicated to Jo Cox and Diane Abbott, and inviting actors and audience members alike to stand up to speak, urging that their voices be heard, questioning patriarchy and suppression with moving vigour. Jess Murrain and Waleed Elgadi particularly stand out, their passion and emotive acting hammering home the key takeaway from this collection of plays: politics should absolutely be given a platform within the arts and censorship does nothing but continue the cycle of oppression.
The writing of all these plays is superb; humorous moments are laced in between emotionally distressing subject matter. It seems as though the majority of the audience agrees with the message of the show, but the irony of it all seemed lost on some audience members; bellowing laughs from individuals nursing wine glasses, in the safety of the theatre, contrasts with the issues of colonialism, racism, xenophobia and genocide unfolding in front of us. The playwrights turn the questions back to us. What can we do as individuals? Are we part of the problem? What actions can we take to combat censorship and demand our voices be heard?
Following each performance, a panel of activists and academics take the stage to discuss the subject matter and real-world implications of the plays. Education and action appear to be prime motivations for this staging, which offers an outstanding criticism of the censorship which the makers suggest is blatant in British theatre and Arts Council funding.
It’s certainly a production worth seeing. So relevant to the current climate, it raises problems that, regardless of personal viewpoints, are important discussions to be had.
Written by: Hassan Abdulrazzak, Zia Ahmed, Mojisola Adebayo, Philip Arditti, Sonali Bhattacharyya, Nina Bowers, Roxy Cook, Waleed Elgadi, Ed Edwards, Dawn King, Ahmed Masoud, Joel Samuels, Sami Abu Wardeh
Co-directed by: Cressida Brown and Kirsty Housley
Lighting design by: Angelo Sagnellia
Sound design by: Ed Lewis
Cutting the Tightrope: The Divorce of Politics from Art plays at Arcola Theatre until 7 December. Further information and tickets available here.
