Review: Home, Grand Junction

As part of Shubbak Festival, in co-production with Grand Junction, a collective of South West Asian & North African artists presents Home, a moving, witty, and theatrically clever piece for family audiences. Developed in consultation with intergenerational communities from the streets and tower blocks surrounding the Paddington venue, Home takes its creative spark from the Algerian Berber folktale The Orphan and the Moon. Audiences are invited to explore the meaning of home through the layered perspectives of first, second, and third-generation Global Majority families living in London today.

Refreshingly positive and avoiding stereotypes of inner-city life, Home doesn’t shy away from exploring tensions and misunderstandings. Writer Roann Hassani McCloskey steers us through these complexities with warmth, wit, and lyrical dexterity. Using a narrative storytelling style, McCloskey conjures an imaginary ninety-nine-floor tower block overlooking the A40 and Wembley Stadium, populated by a cast of vivid characters.

Under the sensitive direction of Layla Madanat, the talented cast brings this world to life. At the story’s heart is Jawad (Luca Kamleh Chapman), a young boy whose imagination delights the children in the audience. Whether playing on the stairs, navigating jungle adventures, or scoring a winning goal for Manchester United at age 8, Jawad’s inner world is rich and lively. Yet beneath the surface, he is troubled. Unable to manage his emotions, he bottles up his anxieties and frustrations, refusing to cry. Chapman brings such authenticity to this role that you believe he is 8: a rare skill.

Enter Moon (Nadi Kemp-Sayfi) and her sidekick Star (Kiren Kebaili-Dwyer), who guide Jawad on a journey of emotional discovery. With live sound work by Riwa Saab and minimalist props, Moon and Star fluidly multi-role with wit and energy, beautifully crafting characters with only the occasional help of glasses or a simple scarf. At one point, Moon stops mid-scene to ask, “Did you see how I just did the Mum’s voice, and now I’m the Moon again?” This breaking of the fourth wall is charming and effective, and the young audience quickly embraces the theatrical conventions. 

As Jawad ascends the tower block to deliver a cutting of his mum’s jasmine plant to “poor Mr Trevor,” a recently widowed resident on the ninety-ninth floor, the community rallies around the mission. Everyone’s been “meaning to visit,” but they’re “too busy,” so they send gifts: plantain, coffee, soup, and cake. But disaster strikes when Jawad drops the jasmine cutting down the lift shaft. Feeling he’s let everyone down, especially Mr Trevor, Jawad is overwhelmed with guilt.

The piece runs just over 35 minutes, and although short, is described as a work-in-progress in the post-show feedback session. There are hopes it will be developed further for a wider tour.

Even in this early form, Home shines as a gem of theatre for young audiences. It tells of often-overlooked communities with compassion and playfulness. It sensitively explores grief, challenging traditional portrayals of masculinity. With Moon’s help, Jawad learns that it’s okay to cry—and that holding emotions inside isn’t always the answer.

The story closes with a beautiful moment of magical realism: Jawad’s and Mr Trevor’s tears mix and cascade down the lift shaft, watering the fallen jasmine cutting. The plant bursts through the doors and winds its way up the tower, embracing the residents and pulling the community together, including the audience, now on their feet. The final visual reveal – an enchanting garden of oversized fruits, vegetables, and flowers designed by Maariyah Sharjil – leaves a lasting impression.

Bring tissues, you may need them. But as Moon says, “What is wrong with that?” Sometimes, a few tears are just what we need.

Writer: Roann Hassani McCloskey
Director: Layla Madanat 
Designer: Maariyah Sharjil
Sound Designer: Riwa Saab
Creative in the Room: Ishmael Kirby
Lighting Designer: Nigel Edwards
Producer: Lucy Foster (Grand Junction)

Home has finished its run at Grand Junction.