Bus tales: Danusia Samal (Demi) and Toyin Kinch (Malachi) steal the show. Photo credit: Graeme Braidwood
Play: Circles
Theatre: Tricycle Theatre
Playwright: Rachel De-lahay
Director: Tessa Walker
Review by Natalie Gormally
Rachel De-lahay’s powerful new play Circles depicts the cycle of violence across three generations of women.
Set in De-lahay’s birthplace of Birmingham, she divides our attention between two settings: the number 11 bus, a two-hour circular service that was once one of the longest urban routes in Europe, and the front room of a house.
Teenagers Demi (Danusia Samal), a mixed-race 15-year-old, and Malachi (Toyin Omari-Kinch), a 17-year-old black teen, first meet on the top deck of the bus. He is full of bravado, trying to impress by chatting loudly on his mobile in urban Midland’s patois. She, slightly amused, takes this circular journey daily, simply to pass the time. The two start talking, swapping feisty insults and flirty banter, and agree to meet again on the bus route.
The second half of the story falls to Angela (played with great volatility by Sarah Manners), Demi’s mother, who is facially bruised and seeking refuge with her mum, Phyllis (an admirable Janice McKenzie), after yet another violent attack by her partner. It is a tense and fractious relationship between the two women.
Experiencing abuse seems to runs in the family as Phyllis is a domestic abuse survivor, stuck in a world of pain with a damaged hip and a dependency on painkillers, remnants of the battering from Angela’s father.
Back on the bus, the youngsters continue on their jaunt to nowhere but events take an unpleasant turn. Their burgeoning relationship is forever tainted, despite the initial signs that Demi had managed to avoid the violent path endured by her mother and grandmother. Sadly, in their world, breaking the cycle of violence seems impossible.
What stands out in this engaging play are the scenes between the teenagers. Demi and Malachi’s bus dates are entertaining, amusing and deeply touching. De-lahay, once again, provides authentic and energetic dialogue and under Tessa Walker’s direction, Samal and Kinch steal the show.
Bob Bailey’s simple set design – a few multipurpose plastic chairs and graffiti-scarred plastic screens – evoke a sense of urban Birmingham while supporting a stylish transition between the settings and stories.
De-lahay is an exciting talent. With only 70 minutes running time, this well-crafted and observed piece of theatre skilfully depicts the legacy of women afflicted by violence and its impact on love, trust, family and friendship.
Circles is simply a must see.
Circles is at the Tricycle Theatre until 14 June 2014.