Tu I Teraz (Here & Now)

Synopsis

Marysia moved to England a long time ago. As far as she is concerned she has started a new life here with her teenage son, Kuba. But when her sister Anna arrives from Poland unexpectedly it forces her to think again about her choices. Should you leave your past behind and start over again or is where you come from the most important thing about you? And has Marysia really left everything from her past behind or is she hiding a secret? A moving, intelligent, vibrant new play about immigration and family loyalties.

Our Review:

21 December 2012

For the first few moments you think this is a play entirely in Polish, as Anna (Anna Elijasz) chatters away to her taciturn sister, Marysia (Ania Sowinski), over the laundry basket, but gradually you discern the fact that Marysia is giving brief responses in English, and then repeatedly asks Anna to speak only in English. They are in England now, and Marysia is escaping her past with her teenage son, Kuba (Mark Strepan).

The girlishly appealing Anna proceeds to threaten her sister’s new life with her attempts at Polish cooking and teaching Kuba about his motherland, and Marysia hides the fact that she is still having sex with her violent ex-husband, Janusz (George Lasha).

Mother and son move from a dingy flat in London to a house in Colchester and still the sister hangs around, trying hard to be ‘a good aunt’ to Kuba, and despite being asked to leave. This is an episodic piece, with constant interruptions for minor scene changes, and never builds u...

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Latest User Review

Teresa Patecka - 13 January 2013:

very enjoyable could relate to this play ...

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