Where There Is No Time at Seven Dials Playhouse Review
Written by Charli for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are my own
What is the price of success? Is it possible to maintain integrity as an artist and still make a name for yourself? Can the people that have stood by you from the very beginning, remain by your side at the end?
These are just some of the questions that writer Mohammedally Hashemi explores in Where There Is No Time, his debut full-length play currently showing at the Seven Dials Playhouse.
The story follows Yusuf, performed by Hashemi, a British Iranian-Yemeni designer who, until now, has been making a name for himself in the fashion industry by doing things differently. Whether that’s embracing his heritage and making political statements through his designs to missing fashion’s habitual and unforgiving deadlines, he has found a way of carving his own path.
By Yusuf’s side is his loyal best friend Nina - played by Kerena Jagpal - who models his clothes. She tries to keep Yusuf grounded amongst the increasing noise from the commercial world, but when Yusuf’s money runs out, he ignores Nina, and partners with entrepreneur Suzann (Milly Zero) in an attempt to save himself and his work.
The exploration of the themes of power and identity were really interesting, particularly through the dynamics between the three characters and the thoughtfulness of the staging, as well as the ‘Dress of Faith’. This beautiful, mesmerising dress was designed by Yusuf’s late-mother, and effectively conveyed the power and emotion that fashion can articulate.
However, I did want more from Yusuf’s character. I wanted more of his backstory, I wanted more articulation of how he was wrestling between artistry and commercial success, I wanted more emotion. He felt like a blank canvas that both Suzann and Nina were projecting themselves onto - an artist’s vision from which they could both gain something from. Perhaps that was the point, but I was left feeling like I needed more.
This meant that, especially in the latter half of the play, it became more about two strong women being pitted against one another. I don’t love the trope of there only being space for one successful woman in a room, although I appreciate they were representing different things for Yusuf: Nina as his heritage and creative past, Suzann as the commercial future. I just feel that things got a bit scrappy towards the end and perhaps could have been approached with more sophistication.
Nonetheless, Zero’s performance as Suzann stole the show for me. She played this sickly sweet persona with ease, commanding the stage and generating the most amount of laughs as she got to deliver some of the best lines in the show.
Overall, I felt this production was visually stunning and loved the central themes being explored. I just wish they could have gone further with Yusuf’s character and given him the depth that he deserves.
Where There Is No Time is running at the Seven Dials Playhouse until 28th March.
★ ★ ★
