Fringe review: SANTI AND NAZ, The Thelmas - Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Pre-partition India. Santi and Naz are best friends, one is Sikh, one is Muslim, they have little idea of how religion will divide them. As the political situation in the country worsens, they decide to take drastic action. Exploring queer love, identity and loyalty in a country that will soon be changed forever. The future is unpredictable, but their devotion isn't.

Rose Marie-Christian is Santi, the ambitious book lover who can't wait to get out in the world, and Karendip Phull is Naz, the naive country girl, who has convinced herself that if they don't talk about something, then it can't really be happening.

It's a coming of age story, set against a backdrop of a country that doesn't know where it belongs anymore, so how can these girls know who or where they are supposed to be?

Marie-Christian and Phull are both extremely competent actors. Their relationship is clear and relatable, with an ease that is a joy to watch. The story moves at a good pace with its twists and turns not always foreseeable, maintaining the audiences engagement.

It's a beautifully written script, part innocence, part discovery. 

A tale of pietous friendship.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Santi and Naz plays in Pleasance Two at Pleasance Courtyard at 1.30pm until 28 August.