Review: Where There Is No Time, Seven Dials Playhouse 

Where There Is No Time begins with fashion designer Yusuf (Mohammedally Hashemi) at a sewing machine, scribbling in a notebook. He’s preparing his spring/summer collection, having just received significant financial backing from entrepreneur Suzann (Milly Zero). When friend and model Nina (Kerena Jagpal) arrives, she’s sceptical of the deal. Tensions rise when Suzann drops by the studio. 

It feels as though the ideas behind the play have been discussed extensively in development, to the detriment of the final piece. Crucial context is missing – and the context that is given is provided in a way that proves the ‘show don’t tell’ rule. One of the driving forces behind this new collection, Yusuf’s mother (and, more broadly, his heritage), is entirely ungrounded. All we know is that she is Yemeni, and she is dead. All we know of his father is that he is Iranian. We’re told that Yusuf was inspired to go into fashion by a dress that his mother made, the ‘dress of faith’, but the story and significance of this gown is nebulous. 

Yusuf’s descriptions of his creative process and visions unfortunately sound like the pretentious ravings of someone you get stuck talking to at a party. His monologues weave ideas of heritage, creation and existence into a gossamer-thin philosophy that doesn’t have the weight the writers must have intended it to. 

It does, however, paint a strong picture of the fashion industry and those in it as self-obsessed and egotistical, something which carries to the two others in this three-hander. Nina stresses the importance of Yusuf being authentic and true to himself, dismissing the commercial machine of fashion, yet is an Instagram influencer who name-drops her walks for Prada and international jet setting. Suzann, on the other hand, a pleasantly cliched #girlboss, is laser-focused on business and asks Yusuf to pull back on the political statements for the sake of sales. 

The drama of the play feels overwrought despite the apparent stakes – in part because we don’t know enough about the characters and their motivations, and also because we never feel immersed in the high-fashion setting. Yusuf’s designs are never shown on stage. It’s a big ask to demand that the costume designer rustle up couture-level garments off the cuff, but a hint of glamour here and there wouldn’t go amiss. 

Each scene break is punctuated by pumping music, an unnecessary addition that disrupts and disjoints the narrative. This is compounded towards the play’s final moments, where an excessively long set change has very little impact. 

It’s a real shame that the execution of this piece falls flat, because there’s certainly an interesting, complex story in here. How different types of privilege (rather, the lack of it) interact, the role of fashion in activism and how money can corrupt that, the weight of ambition and its pressure on personal relationships, how cultural heritage plays into how we see the world; all rich themes ripe for exploration. But the final collection, in this case, is not cohesive. 

Writer and Producer: Mohammedally Hashemi 
Director: Hamza Ali 
Assistant Director: Asia Joanna Rob 
Producer: Sheyi Cole 
Executive Producer: Tahj Dinero Miles 
Associate Producers: Denzel Baidoo, Malachi Pullar-Latchman, Joshua Alexander-Williams 
Dramaturg: Alessandro Babalola 
Sound Designer: Ryan Rusconi 
Fashion Designer: Kazna Asker 

Where There Is No Time plays at the Seven Dials Playhouse until Saturday 28 March.