Theatre Review: Contradictions at Contact Theatre
Article published: Tuesday, November 17th 2009
Propelled by the blistering, multi-role performance of writer-actor Ali Gadema, Contradictions takes the audience on a dark, intimate and occasionally distressing journey through early-1990s Manchester on the number 42 bus route.
Urban theatre is often patronisingly praised for its “honesty” but in this case the word is wholly appropriate. The autobiographical story discusses racial prejudices and expectations, drug use, robbery and sadistic homophobia from the perspective of users and perpetrators so often portrayed in caricature but here rendered as complex, occasionally sympathetic individuals. Yet the writing never flinches from the violent or profane. This is the story of the “scallys” smoking weed at the back of the bus. It looks and sounds familiar to Mancunians, even though it will still surprise most, while serving up a lesson in social history for those new to the city. It is a gripping and relevant piece of new theatre.
Contact is already feeling the influence of its enthusiastic new Artistic Director, Baba Israel and since the theatre’s 10th anniversary in October the programming has seemed particularly exciting and diverse, recently moving off-site for Plastic and working with experimental companies. Playback Contact is a new initiative that got an airing at Contradictions on Friday 13. Three performers take audience feedback from the informal, post-show discussion and mould personal experiences of the play into a tableau of movement and sound. It was an unusual and fitting compliment to the piece.
Co-produced with Sharpening SAWDS (Sound and Word Delivery Styles), the Hulme-based hip-hop arts collective, Contradictions is suitably grounded in the rap, reggae and hip-hop music of the era. Events are inventively portrayed through a mixture of spoken word, shadow puppetry, live beat-box and the basic props needed to transform Ali from aging Jamaican bus driver to screeching youth to arthritic mother. These are noteworthy stylistic turns in a play full of substance.
Contradictions is at the Contact Theatre Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 November, at 7:30pm
Tickets are £10, £6 conc. and free to Free Act Card Holders (see here for details)
Siobhan McGuirk
Comments
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a great review. reminds me of scallies smoking weed at the back of the 42 and 43 with their shite music blaring, and being attacked by 16year old girls for asking them to pay their bus fare while the driver refused to move unless they did…happy memories!
Comment by P on November 18, 2009 at 3:37 pm -
This play builds an understanding of thos scallies, doesn’t assassinate them! This comment makes you seem like you should go and see it!
Comment by The Green Pooki on November 20, 2009 at 6:48 pm -
ali just read a wonderful review of your
Comment by steve ben israel on December 21, 2009 at 4:12 am
work…best steve
The comments are closed.
