After Sunday review – cookery class exposes simmering tensions in secure hospital
Bush theatre, LondonPerformed by an exceptional cast, Sophia’s Griffin’s debut play paints a vivid picture of men – and a system – in crisisThe heat rises slowly, and then suddenly...
By Anya Ryan · The Guardian Culture
Bush theatre, London Performed by an exceptional cast, Sophia’s Griffin’s debut play paints a vivid picture of men – and a system – in crisis The heat rises slowly, and then suddenly reaches boiling point, in Sophia Griffin’s debut play. Set in a secure hospital in Birmingham – walled off from the rest of life – occupational therapist Naomi (Aimée Powell) starts hosting weekly Caribbean cooking classes. Believing in the meditative power of food, she hopes to engage the men with memories of home-cooked meals and maybe even provide a space for difficult conversations to flourish. But, with Ty, Leroy and Daniel’s simmering histories at play, the room can tip into conflict with one wrong step. Over the course of the sessions, the men’s pasts gradually become less hazy. The youngest, Ty (a witty, bravado-infused performance from Corey Weekes), is desperate to get out and return to prison. Leroy (David Webber) has been on the ward for what feels like for ever and fears leaving as much as he longs for freedom. The newest arrival, Daniel (Darrel Bailey), just wants to get fixed quick and reconnect with his family. Griffin holds back the details of the characters’ offences until just the right moment, letting us get to know them first. When we finally hear snippets of them, it feels like a punch to the skull. Continue reading...