Review: A TUPPERWARE OF ASHES, National Theatre
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
Meera Syal shines as Queenie in A Tupperware of Ashes, a vivid and heartbreaking family drama that explores life, immigration, and the Indian spiritual cycle of death and rebirth. Written by Tanika Gupta, this play takes audiences through a deeply emotional journey, with Syal commanding the stage in every moment.
The show begins with a fearful and cautious Queenie, who contrasts beautifully with the courageous and spontaneous Amit. This moment sets the tone for the shifting tides of time, as we later find Queenie widowed, grappling with loss and her changing identity. The metaphor of Queenie becoming a "fire hazard" is both poignant and haunting, as her inner turmoil and frustration start to manifest outwardly.
Queenie’s relationships with her three children are fraught with tension, especially with Raj, the black sheep of the family, who carries the burden of being an outsider, even within his own home. Gupta masterfully sketches out these family dynamics, making them both relatable and deeply specific to Queenie’s world.
As Queenie’s illness progresses, the play does not shy away from its heavier moments. Gupta doesn’t offer frequent respite between the emotionally charged scenes, but she expertly threads brief moments of humour throughout the narrative. These moments of laughter feel well-earned, providing relief amidst the heart-breaking reality of Queenie’s disease.
Queenie takes charge of her illness, stating her wishes to live with each of her children in turn, avoiding the care home that looms in the background. These transitions allow us to see more layers of this multifaceted character, though the second act does lose some of the momentum built in the first. At times, the pacing slows with a bit too much exposition, and the bureaucracy surrounding Queenie’s ashes, while initially comical, doesn't fully land in comparison to the emotional weight of earlier scenes.
Nevertheless, the play’s more intimate moments, particularly between Queenie and Pavel (played by Stephen Fewell), are essential to the overall message of the show. Fewell’s performance is a standout, bringing depth to every supporting character he embodies, and making his scenes with Syal all the more compelling.
Though the second act could have been tighter, A Tupperware of Ashes succeeds in delivering a powerful and moving exploration of family, loss, and identity. Meera Syal’s bold and honest portrayal of Queenie stays with you long after the final curtain, making this a production that is as emotionally rich as it is visually striking.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Beatriz Do O
A Tupperware of Ashes plays at the National Theatre until 16 November, with further info here.
