Shraddha

Synopsis

The 2012 Olympics spells eviction for the generations of Romany Gypsies living in East London. 17 year old Pearl Penfold is one of them. As the bulldozers close in, Pearl falls in love with Joe, a boy from the local estate. Can Joe prove himself to Pearl and her family before they are gone forever?

Our Review:

Michael Coveney - 5 November 2009

It’s not just the gypsy in my soul, but there’s something about Natasha Langridge’s new play at the Soho that stirs sympathy for the Romany roadsters who live on the outskirts and under motorways with their china dolls, tribal loyalties and quaint old language.

The title, a Sanskrit word, means “faith” - you are what’s in your heart, apparently, and that’s sometimes hard to live up to, as Jade Williams’ impulsive heroine soon finds out. She’s intrigued by a lad, Joe, on the other side of the fence who’s not one of her kind - he’s a gorger, a non-gypsy.

So they fall in love, as the bulldozers move in to clear the East End area for the upcoming Olympic Games. It reminds me of that fantastic play the Maly Theatre of St Petersburg brought here, Stars in the Morning Sky, about the Russian authorities’ determination to clean up the image of the Moscow Games in 1980 by flushing out the prostitutes....

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Latest User Review

alfie - 7 November 2009:

A great insight in to the lives of the much maligned traveller as seen through the eyes of two young lovers from different sides of the fence.Exciting muscular language and convincing performances draw you in to a world just round the corner...

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