What We Did to Weinstein

Synopsis

In the light of the current situation around the world - where a culture of fear and reprisal is coming commonplace, where terrorism and the war on terror are the most regular news items - Ryan Craig's comic and hard-hitting play offers a timely and sharp reminder that theatre can and must address the most important issues of the day. What We Did to Weinstein is about a clash of cultures, of religions, of lifestyles, of ideals and of historical perspectives. Fathers and sons, brothers and sisters, lovers and old friends are polarised by the political affairs of the world. Their lives are profoundly and personally altered by the events happening around the world. These are characters in real cities: London, Jerusalem and Ramallah, who are living on the front line of the war on terror. They are characters who are trying to live their lives in the shadow of this war and who represent every possible faction within that war.

Our Review:

27 September 2005

Ryan Craig's new play is nothing if not topical. Although neither 9/11 nor the Iraq war are mentioned specifically, and 7/7 only once indirectly, Craig conveys with dramatic intensity and a surprising amount of humour current religious and cultural conflicts in our uncertain world of terrorism and war on terror.

While the two plays at the National – Mike Leigh's domestically orientated Two Thousand Years and David Edgar's intellectually heavyweight Playing with Fire – deal with some of the same issues, What We Did to Weinstein brings them to life with much more visceral power.

The play begins with Josh, a young British Jew who has joined the Israeli army, being interrogated by an officer about what he did to a Palestinian terrorist suspect. As we move back and forth in time, and between West London and the West Bank, we gradually find out what happened and why.

The 'backstory' involves Jo...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

195.54.229.238) - 10 October 2005:

Having never been to this venue before I didn't really know what to expect. A superlative production of a really fascinating new play - far better than anything I've seen in the West End recently. Craig manages to skilfully combine humour and pathos throughout. He's surely a talent to watch. ...

Read more and add your own review