Review: TALES FROM THE FRONT LINE Episodes 3 & 4, Talawa Theatre Company

In the second instalment from Talawa’s Tales from the Front Line, we hear the views of a railway worker and a shop worker. 

We hear about Black front line workers’ concerns about working in an environment where respect for workers is low, in the pieces directed by David Gilbert and Jessica Mensah. 

In Part 3, we hear from Kwame Bentil (Get Luke Lowe; Summerlake) who brings the words of a train worker to life. The dispatch worker is disappointed and frustrated that he faces an increasing lack of respect just trying to do his job whilst trying to enforce the new COVID safety procedures. This is all whilst living with his elderly father whom he is desperately trying to protect from getting the disease. 

This story in particular really hits home due to personal connection. The discrimination of these workers for merely doing their jobs is appalling but well represented in Part 3. This is highlighted with the phrase “I don’t listen to you, I only listen to white people, you will have to find a white manager to tell me to put my cigarette out.”  It is so eye-opening and shocking for the viewer, whilst imbuing sympathy towards the tale that is being played out. 

In Part 4, we see Ann Akin (I May Destroy You; Strike series) tackle the story of a supermarket worker who qualified with her masters from a National Film & Television school just before the pandemic hit, and how she had a job at the supermarket whilst studying. She too faced prejudice, discrimination and had to fight against people’s perceptions of shop workers. 

She discusses how rude people were; how they assumed that because she works in a shop that she is unskilled and unintelligent. She adds how people spoke down to her, how they looked at her and assumed that she couldn’t speak English. However, once Covid hit, people were so much more polite because they realised how important shop workers actually were. 

Part 4 sheds light on how empty the streets were, how pleasant it actually was going to work when being the only person on the bus and how the air seemed fresher somehow. It has a positive tone and the background music is very melodic and calming. 

It is enjoyable that both directors have created pieces that are juxtaposed to one another. Part 3 feels quite busy and the music chosen reflects that. The story is told straight and it is slightly negative in what it is saying. The background, out on the streets, makes it feel stark and cold, which has evidently been done to reflect the story that he is telling. 

In Part 4, the music is calming and the tale, whilst having some negatives, speaks of the positivity that was reawakened during the pandemic; how people were actually kinder, realising to enjoy life and be thankful. It is a much happier piece and it is important that these stories are told as well, as opposed as it is to the first.

Once again, Talawa bring us interesting and detailed representations of what it has been like for front line workers during the pandemic. The pieces are getting better with each release so Parts 5 & 6 are eagerly anticipated.

****’ 4.5 stars

Reviewed by: Emma Littler

To watch the episodes, please click here.