Dismissed

Writer: Daniel Rusteau

Director: Nikhil Vyas

Theatre - Soho Theatre

Tony Craze Award shortlisted playwright Daniel Rusteau's debut play explores some interesting themes in the form of education, knife crime and systemic racism. Rusteau successfully navigates both sides of the arguments, creating believable characters who care about the topics at hand while never leading the audience to a simple conclusion. 

Ashley, played by Georgia-Mae Myers, is the focal character who finds a hunting knife in the bag of her favourite student. Her defence of her student's actions is what drives the plot, bringing her into conflict with her peers, superiors and even the boy's family. Through Ashley's eyes we are able to examine the societal problems faced by youths from low socioecomomic backgrounds as well as the challenges that the education systems that serve them face in supporting them. 

Myers performance is exceptional and is the stand out of the show. That being said, the supporting cast members all play their part with Rebecca Crankshaw in particular embodying the role of the Headteacher in a manner that will be familiar with many. One area for improvement would be the volume of the dialogue delivered by some cast members as, even in a small theatre such as the Soho upstairs, it was difficult to hear at times.

The dialogue is slick although occasionally feels slightly forced with some of the lines intended for humour missing the mark. But Rusteau ensures that every scene is relative and the play flows seamlessly from start to finish.

The stage setting is simple but effective. A classroom with a large clock on the wall with tables and chairs moved around to transform the room into the variety of settings where the scenes take place. The transitions between these scenes provided a natural sense of time movement with the actors walking purposely across the stage while resetting the props. Movement director Kwami Odoom should be commended for his work here.

The evening I went to see the play was the night before press night and it did feel more like a preview night at times rather than the finished article. There was the odd fluffed line (due, I'm lead to believe, to some late scripts changes the previous night) and the clock fell off the wall. But the cast handled the adversities well and I'm sure as the 3 week run unfurls that these problems will have been ironed out.

3/5 - Worth seeing