Nassim Soleimanpour’s White Rabbit Red Rabbit, is part play, part experiment. A well known actor (in this case, the endearing Nick Mohammed) reads a script aloud; word for word, for the first and only time. There’s no rehearsal, no scenery and no direction.

The tension is palpable as Mohammed removes the script from a sealed red envelope, against the backdrop of just one chair and two glasses on a small table. Mohammed first hears the content of the script at the same time as the audience. This may sound gimmicky but as experiments go, it’s a fascinating one to be a part of. With the only constant being the words, the different actors and the changing audiences will bring a new dimension to every performance.

Written whilst he was a conscientious objector, unable to leave Iran, Soleimanpour connects with his audience directly using the actor as a conduit. The writer transcends time and distance as the theatregoers become part of his piece. The crowd’s collective response appears to directly influence the actor’s reactions to the script and ultimately the choices they make.

Soleimanpour’s words are, at times, comedic, at others hard hitting, but always thought-provoking. White Rabbit challenges its audience’s views on complicity, trust and obedience. Questioning our reactions to uncomfortable situations and asking us to consider the impact we have on those around us, querying why we mirror the responses of others, even when we haven’t had the same experiences they have.

Some of the darker themes are expanded fully, others visited more briefly as a stream of consciousness. With a running time of just over one hour, the play and the audience could handle a deeper probe into some of the material, though perhaps the same can’t be said for the actors.

Mohammed, in this role, is funny and gentle, clearly affected by the weight of his task. It is compelling to watch him experience the play for the first time along with everyone else. It starts off on a fun and silly path, which matches Nick’s style perfectly, but he also delivers the more meaty and challenging content with aplomb. It’s fun to ponder how a different actor would deliver this script to another audience, creating an entirely contrasting event which, of course, is the main appeal of this piece.

Ultimately, Soleimanpour has created a uniquely fascinating and intriguing theatrical experience which will leave you reeling for days.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Cara Brazier

White Rabbit Red Rabbit plays at @sohoplace until 9 November.