Brought to us by Jump Spark theatre company and directed by Fay Lomas, Hunger is based on the novel by the Norwegian author Knut Hamsun. It is currently running at The Arcola Theatre in Dalston, London.
This timeless tale tells the story of a young man who struggles to make a career as a writer in a tough unforgiving world. While the play was published in 1890 it is still as relevant today.
Kwani Odoom gives an intense and evocative performance as the young writer. Bit by bit, we see his ego and pride chipped away by an unfeeling society as he is turned away from every role that he applies for to make ends meet while his writing is turned down by newspaper after newspaper.
The writer finds himself in more and more of a desperate situation, evicted because of rent arrears unable to afford food to eat, yet he still holds on to some optimism. All this time, he grows hungrier and weaker.
The three other actors Jessica Tomlinson, Katie Eldred and Archie Backhouse take on multiple roles with a variety of accents.
They are first his friends in a bar unaware of how much he is struggling when they insist it his turn to buy the round. They play potential employers who reject him, a pawn broker when he is reduced to selling his coat, a posh couple who belittle him and a suspicious policeman who insists he move on when he sees him sleeping rough in a doorway.
I am always fascinated at how the limited stage area of the Arcola is transformed for their different productions. Through movement, sound effects and lighting, studio 2 is successfully transformed into this immersive experience.
This heartbreaking moving production is at the Arcola, London, until 21 December.
