Review: EAST IS EAST, Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Photo credit: Pamela Raith
After 25 years, East Is East is back home where it started at the Birmingham Rep. Since its first public outing in October 1996, it has grown from strength to strength, most notably the 1999 movie adaptation of the same name.
The time is 1971, the location Salford, the subject observing the cultural struggles of a mixed family from the perspective of a 12 year old boy who wears a parka like a suit of armour/invisibility cloak, more magical than any seen at Hogwarts. George Khan is the head of the Family and Tony Jayawardena is the stand out lead of this production.
George (who has a wife and family in Azad Kashmir, West Pakistan) immigrated to England in the late 1930’s to earn money to support his family in Pakistan. Forty years later, we join the Khan Family in their modest home in Salford. Here we meet George’s second wife Ella (Sophie Stanton) and six of their seven children. George, who came to England with very little, now owns and runs a fish and chip shop with the aid of his family.
George is a complex man and Jayawardena explores the complexities of holding onto one culture whilst living in another with such clarity; despite some truly terrible flaws, you want him to succeed in finding the balance. Stanton is an incredible pairing; despite her husband’s desire to rule with an iron fist, she greets him only with love. She will defend her pride like a lioness but not in spite of her husband, in recognition that he is fighting his own battles and the hope that love and learning will be victorious.
Right by Ella’s side is Auntie Annie (Rachel Lumberg) whose comedy timing is intuitive and commanding. A supporting maternal figure to the children, Auntie Annie often holds the perspective of the audience. The dynamics between the three ‘adults’ are intimate and nuanced. All jokes about cultural difficulties and identities are made without spite or mockery but in jest of the lived experience, a delicate balance, expertly handled.
Act One lacked light and shade. It sets the foundations for the story, we meet the family, the themes and the plot. Jokes and information delivered by the children, in particular, are often lost or thrown away. Some of the set changes also feel unnecessary and overly detailed. The chip shop constantly changing into a kitchen and back, whilst on the other side of the stage, the posh living room is left untouched.
Act Two is when the production really comes into its own. It is dynamic, engaging, emotional and raw. Adonis Jenico finds his voice and pace as the eldest son Saleem Khan, and Amy-Leigh Hickman has settled in as Meenah Khan, the only daughter in a sea of brothers holding her own. The bonds and struggles of family life come to the forefront as everyone is fighting for their own sense of identity. Pakistani? English? Muslim? How much of each should they identify with? All believe they are right, few are willing to listen to others perspectives.
Though set some 50 years ago, the confusions of how to define yourself are still present today. Writer Ayub Khan Din cleverly, and with great humour, explores generational tensions and subtly hints that no matter how much we fight or rebel, there is a large chance we will become echoes of the people our parents are.
Overall strong performances and an enjoyable evening. We’ve no doubt that, as the production continues, it will strengthen and soften into a more balanced experience between the acts. For now, the parka had all the strength but lost its magic.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Alanna Boden
East Is East plays at the Birmingham Rep until 25 September 2021, before moving on to the National Theatre’s Lyttleton Theatre, from 7 – 30 October.