Theatre / The Thelmas
Review: Santi & Naz, The Wardrobe Theatre – ‘Complex, unique and thoroughly satisfying’
The Indian subcontinent is on the brink of Partition after 89 years of British rule.
Religious tensions are high, and two best friends, one Muslim one Sikh, have yet to understand how this monumental event will change their lives forever.
Rich with the language and culture of pre-partition India, Santi & Naz comes to us from Guleraana Mir and Madelaine Moore, who together form The Thelmas, a female-led touring company formed to support female writers.
is needed now More than ever
Written by Mir and afshan d’souza-lodhi, to call Santi & Naz a coming-of-age story is a disservice by association. While it shares all the key elements of that literary crutch, this play is complex and unique.
Santi & Naz by The Thelmas
It starts with the two teenagers lying on the floor, in a yin and yang shape, tracing their fingers over the lines of the borders that threaten to divide them.
The two discuss Gandhi – “I wear silly glasses and I talk about Indians like I know about all of them. He doesn’t know about our village”.
They talk of revolution, what will happen when the British leave, whether Muslims will get to live in the big houses, banned books and how hot the new guy Rahul is.
The two leads are electric, bouncing off each other with perfect timing and addictive chemistry, and the simple yet highly effective set coupled with the atmospheric music means your attention never wavers.
The script is lyrical, moving the plot forward beautifully with moments of genuine humour, and the play is full of movement, adding to the feeling of unease and foreshadowing tumultuous times ahead.
As a piece centering on cultural exploration, the play seamlessly brings in elements of Sikh and Muslim culture. Short dance sequences, discussion of favourite foods, and steamy literature, all serve as light relief from what’s to come.
Things start picking up pace and tensions increase when things get more serious between Santi and Rahul, and Naz is forced into an arranged marriage – “Now I wear the flag of Pakistan like a shroud” – while the two try and figure out who they really love.
As the Partition approaches, the play ends with a twist plot point that feels slightly unnecessary, given the inevitable tension of the time. It’s a rushed conclusion that feels at odds with the solidarity of the rest of the play. It barely matters however, because just as the play portrays, love transcends religion, borders, and a mildly hurried ending to leave a thoroughly satisfied audience.
Santi & Naz is at The Wardrobe Theatre on October 8-10 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com.
All photos: Paul Blakemore
Read next:
- Review: Pleading Stupidity, The Wardrobe Theatre – ‘A joyously silly evening’
- Review: Dugsi Dayz, The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic – ‘A fizzing, authentic delight’
- Review: Cheeky Little Brown, The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic -A vibrant, energising coming-of-age anti-romcom’
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