“A limited but gripping adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s classic novel”
Twenty-five years since its publication, the themes of racism, power, and oppression in Malorie Blackman’s classic novel Noughts & Crosses seem more relevant than ever. Touring the UK this spring is a gripping adaptation of the story, written by Sabrina Mahfouz and directed by Esther Richardson. This iteration of the tale makes use of its younger audience, with an approachable demonstration of the power of theatre to tell compelling stories. Sometimes though, the form limits the storytelling capabilities, and we are left asking what a story like Noughts & Crosses does for a contemporary audience.
It’s a tricky thing to condense a 500 page book into a two and a half hour stage play. There’s a lot this adaptation gets right in terms of pacing. You are thrown into action from the beginning, and the world does not relent from its characters. You see, very plainly, how cruel and brutal this world of oppression is, ultimately to both the oppressed and the oppressor. The world of this play is a gripping one, which makes for natural entertainment. As a tool for engagement, this is certainly an asset to the story. However, this adaptation occasionally oversimplifies Blackman’s reverse racism narrative. It’s not to say it doesn’t try.
There are discussions of the systems of racism and how cyclical it is, but the racial switch feels a little flat. It’s tricky to say what new information those who grew up under racist policing and schooling could take from this adaptation, other than a vision of what this would look like if the roles were reversed. The truth is—they’re not, and if telling this story the other way around would be any less compelling, then our capacity for empathy is as weak and racially insecure as it was twenty five years ago. There have been such efforts by black theatre-makers to tell stories that tackle racism head on in how it is presently, as well as stories that just all-round illuminate and humanise black life in a theatrical landscape that has historically lacked this entirely. Many of these stories are approachable for younger audiences, as approachable as this story is with its heavier themes of racist violence, terror, alcoholism, and sexual violence. The script’s handling of these themes, too, sometimes jars against its desire to speak to a younger audience—a little weight when discussing serious topics like these can be a good thing for such audiences too.
This isn’t to say that Blackman’s story has no place in this landscape. It’s cemented itself as a modern classic for a reason, and I’m sure one way or another, this production will reach the right people, which is ultimately a good thing. A notable moment is a monologue from Callum (Lewis Tidy) as he awaits his death sentence, a genuinely thought-provoking rumination on power. He proposes that if we were to use power in relation to its greatest impact, rather than for domination, it would totally alter our understanding of power itself. This small moment, between him and a prison guard, really felt like it broke through the world of the story and felt like something which really connected with our lived reality.
The company are overall a great ensemble of actors, and their camaraderie can really be felt onstage. Elexi Walker is a standout as both Sephy’s mother and the prison guard Callum confides in. She performs her characters with great conflict and complexity, making a truly troubled character incredibly heartfelt. The set design, by Simon Kenny, is compelling, bringing the world to life in an almost harrowing abstract set, which is well utilised throughout.
There is so much work put into by the team in Noughts & Crosses to appreciate, and a clear adoration for Blackman’s groundbreaking novel. Adaptations are notoriously tricky to get right, and all in all, this one does a good job at maintaining pace and delivering a consistent message, even if it feels occasionally flat. Maybe it’s nothing new, but this production is no doubt going to do some functional good to audiences as it continues its tour.
Noughts & Crosses is touring until the 23rd of May, with remaining dates at Hackney Empire and Lyceum Theatre Sheffield. Tickets here.