Community by Farrah Chaudhry

Birmingham Repertory Theatre, 6 Centenary Square, B1 2EP

3☆☆☆ Review: Joanna Jarvis

‘A warm and witty coming of age story’

We begin at the 50 bus stop somewhere in Birmingham, where poor little rich girl Zoya bumps into an old school class mate Leyla. Zoya, on a mission to ‘find’ herself, has nowhere to stay and inveigles herself into Leyla’s home which she shares with Syrian refugee Khalil. Sofa surfing is not how Zoya sees her new future, and she has no knowledge or understanding of the world in which she finds herself. Her seemingly loveless upbringing, cushioned by wealth and privilege in Edgbaston, has provided her with no understanding of how others are struggling to make ends meet in Balsall Heath. Leyla is the moving force behind a community centre, providing a welcoming place of support for local people, not least Khalil. The selfish, pampered Zoya is set on a collision course with the selfless, self-denying Leyla.

Debut playwright Farrah Chaudhry has used her understanding of the community she grew up in to fashion a warm and witty play about self-discovery. Zoya, at first irritatingly crass and selfish, begins to find abilities that she can use to benefit the community. She is played with gusto by Sabrina Nabi, her words falling over each other, often with the timing of a stand-up comedian. As Leyla, Kerena Jagpal demonstrates quiet strength, especially when faced with the whirlwind brought by Zoya. Khalil, often acting as buffer between the two women, is given a fierce optimism masking the sadness of his life, by Sayyid Aki.

Winding through the whole narrative is a strong thread of faith. We see Leyla praying alone, but at that moment she is part of a wide community of Muslims, all praying together. Khalil, telling a little of his story, expresses this sense of a community that is both local and global. In a moving moment when Zoya realises she must relinquish the spotlight to Khalil, her instinctive use of a Muslim greeting shows that her upbringing in the Pakistani community is still the bedrock of her life. That spotlight allows Khalil to recite one of his poems, revealing yet more of his story. This is a poignant and affecting highlight of the play.

Chaudhry, a graduate of the Rep Foundry, creates characters who draw us into their narrative. By the end Zoya has found some sense of purpose and Leyla sees that looking after herself more often will enrich what she offers to others. They will always be different, but maybe they can also be friends. Through this entertaining and emotional rollercoaster, we have considered the many positive meanings that may be given to the word community.

Cast:

Zoya – Sabrina Nabi

Leyla – Kerena Jagpal

Khalil – Sayyid Aki

Creatives:

Writer – Farrah Chaudhry

Director – Alice Chambers

Assistant Director & Movement Director – Hamza Ali

Composer – Felix Dubs

Production Designer – Jida Akil

Lighting Designer – Jodie Underwood

Sound Designer – Clive Meldrum