The Westbridge

Synopsis

The accusation of a Black teenager sparks disturbance on the South London streets. While tensions rise, a couple from very different backgrounds navigate the minefield between them and their families. The Westbridge explores the intricacies of living side by side, and looks at racial and cultural distinctions with humour and bite.

Latest User Review

steveatplays - 10 December 2011:

Rachel De-lahay carefully constructs characters to prove points: that petty racisms and prejudices we each carry around can indeed hurt others, that identity is not immutable, and that noone is innocent. Usually it would bother me that a play is schematic, but exceptionally, this is an issues play infused with vitality, realism and quirkiness, and in this production, it all works brilliantly. When I entered the Royal Court upstairs, all the chairs but those against one wall, were bolted to the floor facing all kinds of confusing different directions. If you do not wish to play tennis with your head, and are early enough, choose the wall. Having a nimble neck, and twisty legs, I chose a chair right next to the middle stage and ended up in the thick of the most important scenes, which I prefer, but I'm still unscrewing myself. All the actors are impressive. Ravi Aujla smoulders grumpily, Daisy Lewis is infused with restless energy, Ray Panthaki projects an open sincerity, but two actors moved ahead of the others in embodying the horrific confusion and wounded identities that casual racism can bring about: as Soriya (one mixed race half of a mixed race couple) and Andre (a joky but evasive black 16 year old suspected of rape), Chetna Pandya and Ryan Calais Cameron had real tears in their eyes....

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