Powerful production capturing the imagination, a harrowing reminder of the capacity of humans to treat others with such indignity and brutality.
Pilot Theatre has brought the acclaimed novel from Malorie Blackman to stage, adapted by the talented Sabrina Mahfouz. Currently touring the UK, Noughts and Crosses, loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, focuses on a dystopian world where a segregated society (Noughts and Crosses) is full of racial and social divides. Turning history on its head, the Crosses are in charge (People of Colour) and the Noughts (white people) are severely oppressed and maltreated. It is a poignant insight into growing up in a divided world and the brutality of humans towards each other.
Sephy (Effie Ansah) and Callum (James Arden) have a forbidden love, growing from a friendship that’s spanned years and years of enforced separation, clandestine meets and stark differences in privilege. Noughts and Crosses is a story known to most children and young adults, often assigned in English or Drama class as a contemporary look at segregation. Interestingly one wonders if it was received so well in the UK because the white members of society could empathise more easily with the Noughts plight – reinforcing the fact that representation and seeing ‘those who look like you’ in positions of power or poverty truly is the most effective way to illicit sympathy and engagement.
SOME SPOILERS
Mahfouz’s adaptation is carefully done and true to the original material. The first half (running around 1hr30) was extremely impactful – high tension, wild emotions and intense lighting – and really set the scene for Sephy and Callum’s ill fated connection and the ending we all know is coming. We watch as their families, on completely different ends of the social spectrum, crumble and give in to the pressures around them in similar yet wildly different ways. The scenes build and build to the heartbreaking loss of Callum’s dad and Sephy leading to go to boarding school.
However the second half felt rushed compared to the previous careful examination of the societal and racial pressures impacting these two teens love. Having been apart for a number of years Sephy and Callum are reunited in a rather unique and damaging way, yet their love magically prevails, conquers all differences and leaves Sephy pregnant. Sephy’s new child will carry a new hope for society and the audience are left with a wish that this little baby, carrying the weight of the world on its shoulders, can show that everyone is human.
The full ensemble was extremely talented, bringing an energy, passion and honesty to their roles that had us connecting with each character. The development arc of Jude (Nathaniel McCloskey) was fascinating to watch and Jasmine (Amie Buhari) was a woman you longed to shake and hug at the same time, whilst Meggie (Emma Keele) deserved the world. Effie Ansah stood out with her strong delivery of Sephy – taking the character from bratty privileged schoolgirl to empowered confident young woman ready to take on the injustices and prejudices of her father’s society.
Pilot Theatre has done a credit to this story and has been taking it to welcoming audiences around the country. Next off to Oldham Coliseum (14-18 Mar), Lighthouse, Poole (21-25 Mar) and Curve Leicester (28 Mar-1 Apr) catch it whilst you can.