To Walk In Your Shoes (Re:Play – Salford)

A verbatim production brings an unparalled sense of responsibility by the intrepid cast to the participants from which they are quoting. Word for word. To Walk in Your Shoes takes a politically delicate subject matter and explores it with exceptional sensitivity. Nothing is misrepresented, everything is justified.

RedBobble Theatre's latest play is a collection of interwoven monologues that expose the core issues of asylum and immigration from the inside out. Rape, torture, abuse and female genital mutilation are echoed through panicked emotions and harrowing reflection. There is talk of an ideological war, but not without a mentally wounded militia. This is in fact a powerful exercise in creative education, as for seventy sobering minutes we grow to respect a culture of persecuted individuals whose only real desire is to live and work without fear of interrogation or death.

Mesmerising throughout, a talented five-strong cast brings thought-provoking empathy to the stage. Lisa-Marie Hoctor in particular delivers a performance so heartfelt and genuine it has the power to tip you to the brink of tears at any given moment. The set is sparse yet effective; a red cardigan, a handbag, a cover the only splashes of colour on an otherwise black canvas. Atmospheric music punctuates monologues and offers a pause for reflection, whilst agonising revelations are deftly contrasted with moments of humour, pride and empowerment.

The premise for the play lies in Rachael Munro-Fawcett's photography documentary that exposes the often distressing and desperate situation of asylum seekers as they summon the strength and resilience in the face of crisis “What if you were given one hour to flee your country?” The resulting exhibition is a hard-hitting insight and the images flash up throughout the performance as poignant reminders. If a picture really does tell a thousand words, it is disappointing that more were not used to reinforce the narrative and replace the subheadings projected in crumpled note form, albeit an effective progression device.

An accomplished performance that both informs and inspires, “The final thing I’ll say that I love, is that when you’re speaking to someone about something and their mind was closed about it before and somehow in the conversation their mind begins to open a little bit, about something." To Walk in Your Shoes will be playing in your mind long after you leave the theatre.

To Walk In Your Shoes is at the Lowry until 29 January.

– Sarah Bloomer