Warde Street at the Park

Stalkers, stereotypes and thoughts of suicide are but a few of the insanely gripping factors in Warde Street. Set in a fictional borough in inner city London, once best friends Ashfaq (Omar Ibrahim) and Eddie (Shane Noone) are separated by faith and death. Written by Damien Tracey and directed by Jenny Eastop, this brutally blunt play incorporates humour and immense sorrow through only two interlinking settings, the past and the present.

Tracey got out his magnifying glass and megaphone on the nation’s most hush hush topics: religion and politics. Honing in on the life of a convert to Islam who has familial relations with a British politician from whom he needs help, we see and hear the effects 9/11 and 7/7 have had on Muslims who “are not like them”. The British politician withdraws a public statement that was in favour of the young Muslim, Ashfaq, because it would distort his reputable image. He voices his revolt at his Muslim girlfriend’s request asking him to support her brother-in-law, also revealing that it is part of his job is to use Islamic terrorism as a cover for all the other shortcomings of politicians.

Tracey has not tried to play with these topics in the dark, he takes an access all angles approach and shares with us the raw emotion of those affected by these recent but historic tragedies.

Politicians, Muslims and victims alike all have been given a voice in this production – a voice backed up by profound acting. There were moments of intense silence and stillness that really packed a punch and then sudden movements that had people in the audience flinching. There were powerful voices that communicated sheer pain and emotions that resounded throughout the 90-seat black box theatre as tears streamed from the eyes of the onlookers. Every single actor gave it their all and it was enough, more than enough. An excellent performance.

Chaneen Salako

Warde Street is at the Park Theatre until 26^th October 2014, for further information or to book visit here.