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Actors performing a play about actors performing a play can simply fall into self-indulgent introspection. However this isn’t the case right here: Nina Bowers and Phil Arditti have created a present whose humour and power carry a critical dialogue of race, id and what it means to be English. Bounding onto the stage with “I’m Phil” and “I’m Nina”, they launch into “Anybody right here who doesn’t like viewers participation?” earlier than auditioning for the elements of King and Foreigner, with the viewers as judges. It’s a great warmup. The play correct begins with Phil and Nina discovering themselves locked out of…
Ranking
Glorious
An lively, humorous play about appearing, Englishness and race, carried out with appeal and wit
Actors performing a play about actors performing a play can simply fall into self-indulgent introspection. However this isn’t the case right here: Nina Bowers and Phil Arditti have created a present whose humour and power carry a critical dialogue of race, id and what it means to be English.
Bounding onto the stage with “I’m Phil” and “I’m Nina”, they launch into “Anybody right here who doesn’t like viewers participation?” earlier than auditioning for the elements of King and Foreigner, with the viewers as judges. It’s a great warmup.
The play correct begins with Phil and Nina discovering themselves locked out of the rehearsal room the place they’re each attributable to seem in the identical manufacturing. Phil is the veteran actor who’s by no means fairly made the massive time, however who’s eager to parade his theatrical chops earlier than newcomer Nina. “You’re in Henry V, with Stuart?” he calls for. “With Stuart Dunlop, sure,” Nina replies. “Sure,” Phil asserts, “with Stuart”. The emphasis on the truth that he’s on first title phrases with the star of the play is deftly dealt with, and defines his character: he is likely to be prepared to information and mentor Nina, however will all the time achieve this from a place of superiority.
Because it seems, Stuart dies earlier than rehearsal begins and Nina is chosen to play Henry V. It’s the function that might kickstart her profession, but it surely fills her with terror. Phil provides to teach her – there’s an prolonged warming-up sequence that’s hilarious – however the roles are reversed when Nina undermines Phil’s personal efficiency, suggesting he exchange ‘Turkey’ for ‘England’ in his monologue so as to refresh his strategy to his speech, since Phil is Turkish by start. However then is ‘Christian king’ changed with ‘Moslem king’ in the identical speech? One other drawback, as Phil is each Turkish and Jewish. “There’s only a few Jews in Turkey,” he observes. “For one among them to change into king can be… unlikely”. So does he exchange ‘Turkey’ with ‘Israel’? Ah, there’s a minefield.
The story of Henry V’s choice to invade France highlights the play’s title: English kings, it appears, have a protracted historical past of killing foreigners. However what does it imply to be English? Phil nonetheless looks like an outsider, often being solid as a terrorist; mixed-race Nina, in contrast, recollects her father declaring that it was their ancestors who constructed this nation as each slaves and immigrants, and that it’s theirs by proper.
Jamie Lu’s sound design subtly underscores the motion with out ever being intrusive, and the minimalist set by Erin Guan manages to show the rehearsal room into the play’s theatre by the addition of a tiny round stage and a hoop of crimson curtain.
English Kings Killing Foreigners references Gaza, Windrush and the Second World Battle with out ever turning into polemic. The energetic performances have appeal and wit, leading to a vastly entertaining present that makes you chortle as a lot because it makes you suppose.
Written, carried out and directed by Nina Bowers and Philip Arditti
Producer: Maria Cuervo
Artistic collaborators: Milli Bhatia and Hannah Ringham
Set and Costume Designer: Erin Guan
Sound Designer: Jamie Lu
Lighting Designer: Jodie Underwood
Struggle Director: Cristian Cardenas
English Kings Killing Foreigners performs at Camden Individuals’s Theatre till 11 Could. Additional info and reserving right here.
Picture credit score: Lucy Hayes
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