Little Brother at Jermyn Street Theatre Review
Ivan Oyik, Whitney Kehinde and Blair Gyabaah in Little Brother. Photo by Steve Gregson
Written by Cathie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
This production contains smoking, flashing lights, haze, the apprence of theatrical firearms, and references to distressing themes.
Like many astounding things, Little Brother starts in an unassuming way. We meet an unassuming mechanic waiting on the border of Spain and France who talks to an asylum seeker charity worker. Ibrahima Balde is far from an ordinary man, however, and his story that unfurls in front of the audience is nothing short of extraordinary. As Balde explains “Mon frère, la vie c'est pas facile à dire.” Also known as my friend, life is not that easy to tell. Written by Timberlake Wertenbaker, Amets Arzallus Antia & Ibrahima Balde, this is a true life biography of Ibrahima Balde in his journey to find his brother, who journeyed to a refugee camp in Libya to seek a better life for himself and his family.
The cast Youness Bouzinab, Blair Gyabaah Whitney Kehinde, Ivan Oyik and Mo Sesay are utterly phenomenal. Youness Bouzinab is our narrator and guide, representing Ibrahima Balde in his journey with an impressive use of dignity and raw emotion, and the rest of the cast play the revolving wall of characters. The cast’s chemistry together is beautifully crafted and played with total dedication. This is a highly politically pertinent play that focuses on the wave of migrants from Africa, in the case of Balde, that is from Guinea, and the reasoning why they make such deadly journeys. Stella Powell-Jones’s direction is truly impressive in keeping this story’s pace so tightly wound and perfectly paced throughout.
The set design by Natalie Johnson is simple yet powerful. Two doorways flank either side of the stage, with a variety of hard benches and steps in between. Painted a bright terracotta orange, it effectively evokes the warmth of Guinea and the scorching heat of the Libyan desert. It also aids in understanding and imagining the sheer scale of the journey Ibrahima undertook in his personal odyssey to find his brother. The map included in the programme was also a wonderful element that truly helps in grasping the vast distances covered, especially if you are a born Londoner like me and find the concept of such distances difficult to visualise. The Jerymn Street Theatre is ideal for showcasing the claustrophobia of the prisons and village life while keeping the show intimate and deeply vulnerable. This play would transfer well to larger venues such as the Barbican or the National Theatre.
This is a production that wields its themes with the precision of a scalpel and the weight of a sledgehammer. The horrific nature of Ibrahima’s trials and tribulations is even more vividly rendered by his very ordinariness. He is a simple man who just wants to take care of himself and provide for his family and community. He is easily seen in the role of your brother, uncle, father, nephew or cousin. He could easily be the neighbour you turn to for support when your car breaks down, or even represent yourself and your dreams and aspirations. However heartbreaking his story, you are left with the heavy realisation that there are thousands of others around the world with the same story as him, and even more horrifyingly, just as many who have survived even more horrific experiences. Regardless of your political stance towards migrants, this play beautifully explores and explains the reasoning, danger and desperation that drive many to climb into rickety boats and pay their entire wealth into one treacherous journey across the sea. The unexpected kindnesses he is shown and the unimaginable cruelty he endures do not end at the climax of this play. We hear of his continued challenges in Europe and even the original denial of his travel visa to present this very play. A tangible reminder of the continuing difficulty and stigma many refugees face throughout their time abroad.
This production is truly a masterpiece of storytelling and a triumph of theatre. Its unvarnished simplicity makes this gem of a production shine much brighter, and the wisdom of its prose, as well as its heartbreaking elements, will linger in your mind for a long time. If you enjoy shows which discuss the resilience of the human spirit, the importance of hope and human connection, the power of familial love and an insightful discussion of the plights of immigrants, then this is the show for you. If you see one play this year, make it this one.
at Jermyn Street Theatre until 21 June
★★★★★
