The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

The Jungle at the Playhouse Theatre

The Jungle at the Playhouse Theatre | Theatre review
7 July 2018
Emily Harrison
Avatar
Emily Harrison
7 July 2018

The Jungle is writers Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson’s attempt to make sense of their time in the infamous Calais refugee camp, a situation fraught with nuance and confusion. Continuing in the current trend for immersive theatre, upon entering the Playhouse the production transports the audience into the camp, where food is cooking, people are shouting and leaflets and clothing are being handed out. Confusion reigns in this performance, but for this play such an immersive experience feels entirely necessary.

The architecture of the stage means the spectators are surrounded by the cast and rarely able to retain focus on any particular person as the script bounces between the large ensemble. This, combined with the effective use of loud noises, flashing lights and the large number of languages being spoken, highlights the chaotic circumstances of the Calais Jungle. Seasoned director Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin do a brilliant job of conveying the intensity and stress such a complicated international crisis creates for those within it.

Brilliant performances from all the cast, including rising star Alex Lawther, the powerfully present Ammar Haj Ahmad and John Pfumojena, portray the varying experiences of those within the Jungle. A truly intriguing element of the play is the role of the British volunteers; the piece explores the complications of their existence as both white saviour and compassionate stranger and begs the question of what we can do to truly help in a crisis we have helped create. This play highlights the complexity of human experience, touching on topical themes of nationalism, identity, belonging, choice and cultural differences. It gives us no clear answers but undeniably makes us think.

We follow the cast from end, to beginning, to end again, guided by the wryly knowing Safi (Ammar Haj Ahmad). Through an experiment with time and voice, we are guided by events outside the camp, including the death of Alan Kurdi and the Paris attacks. All this roots The Jungle in reality, lest we forget we are witnessing the real experience of others. This culminates in an incredibly emotive speech performed elegantly by Ahmad, which leaves barely a dry eye in the house. 

A play with a message, The Jungle reveals the humanity behind the headlines. Its political outrage clear and obvious, the play effectively demonstrates the challenges we face coming together in a globalised world, but also the value that we can generate when we succeed.

★★★★★

Emily Harrison
Photo: Marc Brenner

The Jungle is at the Playhouse Theatre from 16th June until 3rd November 2018. Book your tickets here.

Related Itemsfeaturedreview

More in Theatre

Henry VIII at Shakespeare’s Globe

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

The Father and the Assassin at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Natallia Pearmain
Read More

Dirty Dancing the Movie in concert at Apollo Theatre

★★★★★
Jim Compton-Hall
Read More

My Fair Lady at the London Coliseum

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

“When you’re presented with different dilemmas in life, you respond accordingly”: Debbie Kurup on The Cher Show

Mae Trumata
Read More

2:22 A Ghost Story at Criterion Theatre

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

The House of Shades at Almeida Theatre

★★★★★
Csilla Tornallyay
Read More

Grease at Dominion Theatre

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

House of Ife at Bush Theatre

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Emily Harrison

The Jungle

★★★★★

Dates

16th June - 3rd November 2018

Price

From £20

BUY TICKETS

Links & directions

TwitterFacebookWebsiteMap

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Alice Cooper at the O2 Arena
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Decision to Leave (Heojil Kyolshim)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • The Five Devils (Les Cinq Diables)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Stephen Fry enters the Radio Times Hall of Fame in conversation with Alan Yentob at the BFI Imax
    Cinema & Tv
  • Roma Bar Show returns for a second edition in Rome next week
    Food & Drinks
  • “It was a really precious process”: An interview with Maksym Nakonechnyi on Butterfly Vision
    Cannes
  • Stranger Things: Season Four
    ★★★★★
    netflix
  • Henry VIII at Shakespeare’s Globe
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Stars at Noon
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Nostalgia
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Nostalgia
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Fiend in Notting Hill: “Risks that pay off”
    Food & Drinks
  • Alice Cooper at the O2 Arena
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Michael Kiwanuka at Alexandra Palace
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Innocent (L’Innocent)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

The Unnatural Tragedy at the White Bear Theatre | Theatre review
Italian wine bar Bottles launches in Old Spitalfield’s Market