Review: Field of Anise, Brighton Fringe

“I want to live. Not just survive”. So says Khalid, a young gay Syrian man eager to escape to somewhere he can be himself. But his lover Zayd is much more closely tied to home, and reluctant to take a gamble on the upheaval and uncertainty of leaving everything he knows behind.

In Amir Amaar’s incisive play, based on his own experiences, home is a Syria depicted as a world dominated by tradition and family, strongly evoked by music and matriarchs. It’s an environment where it may well be possible for many to thrive, but not those born queer.

Zayd is an aspiring writer content to dream of the freedom to express his sexuality, whereas Khalid is restless to break free of the shackles of conventionality. They are simultaneously each other’s raison d’être and foils for their different identities and desires. Amaar has cast himself as Zayd, while Ehson Jodeyri is Khalid, and the actors play the parts with great skill, convincing both as lovers and two different souls with one vital component in common.

Being caught in a compromising position by Zayd’s mother sets in train the events which force Zayd to join Khalid in a perilous journey, away from a home tainted by homophobia and towards a future that neither of them can be sure of.

The play’s set and lighting design play a significant part in telling the story and making it an almost immersive experience. It’s compellingly intimate and ambitiously theatrical at the same time, masterfully evoking the dangerous journey of refugees at the mercy of unscrupulous smugglers. Before the interval we’re presented with a simulation of the infamous ‘small boat’ crossing, achieved with simple techniques which nevertheless generate a terrifying effect. As I recall the scene now, I’m starting to sweat and my heart returns to my mouth where it leapt when I witnessed it last night.

Alongside the story of Zayd and Khalid’s odyssey, Amaar includes strands covering a Piers Morgan-type media figure spouting familiar lines about refugees being rapists who should stay in the first ‘safe’ country they reach. If it’s a view that’s easy for a liberal theatre audience to shake our fists at, there’s no denying its real prominence in these worrying days.

Amaar smoothly directs his own smart script, which moves along at just the right pace. If there are moments when the timelines and locations aren’t crystal clear, it’s a small price to pay for such a heartfelt and passionate production. Sometimes heart matters more than detail, and Field of Anise speaks its plea for humanity with admirable grace and sincerity.   

Written and directed by: Amir Amaar
Produced by Amaar Productions

Field of Anise plays as part of Brighton Fringe until Wednesday 14 May.