Starting a revolution: Ashley Zhangazha (Ali). Photo credit: Iona Firouzabadi
Play: Image of an Unknown Young Woman
Theatre: Gate Theatre, Notting Hill
Playwright: Elinor Cook
Director: Christopher Haydon
Review by Esha Chaman
Elinor Cook’s contemporary political thriller is bursting with punky ferocity in a timely and unrelenting critique of police brutality against a dissident society fighting for revolutionary change.
A video of a young woman in a yellow dress, who is shot in the stomach by a police officer, goes viral. Much to the surprise of the demonstrator Ali (Ashley Zhangazha) who recorded the footage, the video amasses an unprecedented amount of views and shares. The hashtag #weareallthegirlintheyellowdress starts trending in solidarity with the anonymous victim.
Suddenly the whole world is gripped by the unsettling protests and chaos engulfing the unnamed country. The unknown young woman becomes an icon for injustice while the yellow hue of her dress is the colour adopted to symbolise the revolution.
As protesters run riot around the city and hold a vigil outside the hospital where the unknown young woman is recovering, Ali begins to doubt whether he did the right thing by uploading the video online. His girlfriend Leyla (Anjana Vasan) tries to convince him that “it was good instinct.”
The injustice touches the heart of wealthy Londoner Candace (Susan Brown), who reaches out to a charity and is consulted by a native representative Nia (Wendy Kweh) on how to help. Nia’s shares with Candace her own tragic experience and forced exile from her country or origin.
Meanwhile a distressed Yasmin (Eileen Walsh) is by contrast unconcerned by the events surrounding her as she desperately searches through the volatile demonstrations for her missing mother.
Before long the revolution takes a sinister turn for the characters. Yasmin resorts to crime to aid her search. Nia employs perturbing methods to keep Candace financially committed to the cause. And as Ali and Leyla plan their escape from the country, they are caught by the gas-masked authorities and are forced into making a major compromise.
Elinor Cook delivers a fast-paced and suspenseful play which is masterfully layered. On the one hand it examines how a viral image can affect a movement for political change. But it also explores how it takes one victim to expose the widespread oppression and suffering of an entire nation.
The Image of an Unknown Young Woman’s critique of state sanctioned police brutality and torture to control its population is duly harsh. The vagueness of where the events take place is a powerful representation of a global problem.
The menacing mood of protest is boldly expressed through Christopher Haydon’s direction, as punchy drum and bass beats underscore the transition from one scene to the next, accompanied by harsh flashes of strobe lighting which heighten the already turbulent atmosphere.
As for the performances, they are strong and passionate. Susan Brown as Candace rants brilliantly against feeling “stifled by politeness”. The chemistry between Leyla (Anjana Vasan) and Ali (Ashley Zhangazha) is achingly believable. Eileen Walsh’s emotional portrayal of Yasmin is incredibly moving.
The heady combination of a thrilling plot, excellent performances and spunky directorial touches make this a powerful and worthwhile production to see.
Image of an Unknown Young Woman is at the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill, until 27 June 2015.