Two plays by three-time Fringe First winner Henry Naylor, Games and Borders, give us a stark glimpse into the then and now. The Arcola Theatre is a perfect setting for both performances.
First, in Borders we see two lives juxtaposed. British Photo-journalist, Sebastian Nightingale career starts when a meeting with Osama Bin Laden and a rare picture of the man in the cave catapults him to stardom. It opens doors to him as a celebrity photojournalist. Graham O’Mara’s gives a compelling and convincing performance as Sebastian Nightingale.
The other story tells us of an anonymous Syrian graffiti artist as she protests the Syrian Regime through her art by defacing images of Assad. At first, it is the Assad regime she has to cope with but then Isis as well. Deniz Arixenas, who is herself of Kurdish and Syrian origin, gives a powerful and moving performance in this role.
Journalist John Messenger, who we only hear about through Nightingale’s flashbacks, is clearly the third character in the play – the one that can’t look away from what is happening in the world. While Nightingale has sold out to the world of celebrity, Messenger has stayed true to his original mission. Unfortunately for Messenger, the world is only interested in the Syrian struggles when A-listers like Angelina Jolie rock up.
While the stories of Nightingale and the anonymous Syrian artist appear at first unrelated, their lives converge in a devastating conclusion.
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Based on actual events, Games is set in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Two world Jewish athletes Helen Mayer, a half-Jewish fencing star and Gretel Bergmann, a high-jump champion faced outrageous prejudice in their bid to compete for their country in the 1936 Olympics.
Bergmann who was considered to be the best high-jumper in Germany at the time was dropped from the German Olympic team. People were told she was injured. Tessie Orange-Turner gives us a powerful performance as Gretel Bergmann.
Sophie Shad portrayal of Helene Mayer is excellent as she encounters equal prejudice while battling with her identity.
The play serves as a warning that is more relevant today than ever, with the rise of the far right populism and anti-semitism in Europe and America. It demonstrates what happens when racial and ethnic exclusion become the norm.
The double bill will run from Tuesday 4th December to Friday 21st December 2018 at the Arcola Theatre. I would highly
