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A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewDetaining Justice
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Freedom is measured differently from country to country, and this country is comparatively better. That is the reason people want to come here.— Mr Cole
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Aml Ameen as Justice and Karl Collins as Mr Cole (Tristram Kenton)< /div> |
The play is a patchwork of scenes but the main thread is that of a Zimbabwean, Justice Ncube (Aml Ameen)who has entered the UK illegally and has been detained in a detention centre pending either his being allowed to stay in the UK or deported back to Zimbabwe. There is no real choice for Justice Ncube. He is either allowed to stay in the UK or he will die on return to his country, as a member of the opposition to President Mugabe. Justice’s sister Grace came to Britain legally and has been granted permanent residency as a refugee.
Justice and his sister will come into contact with a black lawyer Mr Cole (Karl Collins) who has recently switched from working for the Department of Public Prosecution to a community law centre where he has an outspoken law student helper, Chi Chi (Rebecca Scroggs). Grace Ncube (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) will try to help her brother by pleading his case with Mr Cole and with two obstructive Home Office immigration officers, Alfred (Jimmy Akinbola) and Ben (Abhin Galeya).
We also get a picture of three people working as cleaners on the railways. These are the kind of jobs open to immigrant workers, badly paid and with no status. All three are working illegally and at least two of them are illegal immigrants, Pra (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith) from Ghana, who is also a pastor; from Nigeria, Abeni (Cecilia Noble) and from Eastern Europe, Jovan (Rob Whitelock). The connection is that Grace will attend Pra’s church. Pra and Abeni will find things to argue about demonstrating the African East coast, West coast divide, even in London.
The performances are tip top and the direction by Indhu Rubasingham gets the best out of every actor. I loved the scene in the church where even the youngest members of the cast are there as convincing old men in their hats and raincoats — totally believable, perfect characterisation. Karl Collins superbly carries off his detached, successful lawyer, spurred into caring by the chaotic Chi Chi whose heart is in the right place even if her filing isn’t. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith just has to peer at the audience for us to laugh and love him for his impeccable comedic timing. But at the heart of Bola’s drama is Justice Ncube and Aml Ameen here movingly takes on a more mature role. Sharon Duncan-Brewster as his sister Grace goes to sacrificial and harrowing lengths to help her brother escape the degradation of the detention centre in the most disturbing scene of the play.
Detaining Justice is a play that stays with you. The point is made that the British didn’t ask permission to stay in Africa when they were building their empire — they just went there. We need to be reminded that all the residents of this country are the descendants of immigrants (if you want to argue this point find me someone with pure Angle DNA) and we need to show kindness to others who want to come here.
Bravo to the Tricycle for hosting the Not Black and White season of intelligent, ground breaking drama!
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| Detaining Justice
Written by Bola Agbaje Directed by Indhu Rubasingham Starring: Aml Ameen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Karl Collins With: Rebecca Scroggs, Cecilia Noble, Robert Whitelock, Jimmy Akinbola, Abhin Galeya, John Boyega Design: Rosa Maggiora Lighting: James Farncombe Sound: Tom Lishman Running time: One hour 30 minutes without an interval Box Office: 020 7328 1000 Booking to 15th December 2009 Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 30th November 2009 performance at the Tricycle Theatre, 267 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 (Tube: Kilburn) |
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