Camden New Journal - Theatre: Testing The Echo

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The Review - THEATRE by SARA NEWMAN
Published: 3 April 2008

So then, to be British means you should...

TESTING THE ECHO
Tricycle Theatre

WHEN the machinations of government started steering the UK towards ‘assimilation’ in the aftermath of 9/11, newspapers mockingly published the citizenship test questions.
Playwright David Edgar’s latest endeavour offers an insight into the level of condescension necessary to enable the teaching of such a curriculum.
Through the theatrical tools of soliloquy, suspension of disbelief, voice over and screen projection, interspersed with impersonations of pompous talking heads bleating on about Britain’s tradition of fair play and decency, Edgar interweaves the lives of half a dozen characters seeking British Citizenship.
The irony that many people learn “Britishness” as an export – to gain entry to the rest of the world or for status in their parents’ home country rather than to live and stay in England – is not missed.
Misguided outbursts among dinner party guests opining about the perceived rigidity of the Islamic faith is rapidly delivered beside the teacher’s battle with her politically-minded Muslim student (passionately portrayed by Sirine Saba), who highlights the contradiction of imposing tolerance.
Despite the strong cast, including the divine Kirsty Bushell (Angels In America) and versatile Robert Gwilym, Edgar’s attempt to represent the ethnicities of those taking the citizenship test or the Middle Englanders who teach the syllabus, was bound to fall foul of jarring generalisations.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Egyptians, Serbians and Kosovans barely recognise their own accents.
Many builders might also take offence at the ignorance and foolishness of their hi-vis jacket impersonators.
Nevertheless, the daring production is well meaning, cleverly scripted and deeply introspective – effectively tackling the absurdity of testing a person on something as indefinable as ‘British’ identity and the hypocrisy of asking newcomers questions most Brits would struggle to answer.
Until May 3
020 7328 1000

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