Written by Malorie Blackman, Noughts and Crosses hit the stage at Curve Theatre last night with a new theatre adaptation by Sabrina Mahfooz.
Now part of the drama GCSE syllabus at schools, it was good to see secondary school age children watching the performance and able to recognise and challenge the themes the play deals with.
Set in an indefinite time and tackling the subjects of racism, prejudice, love, family bonds, friendship, loyalty, alcohol addiction, and death, Noughts and Crosses still resonates today as it did when written 20 years ago.
The play revolves around the Crosses being racially segregated from the Noughts, and the Romeo and Juliet relationship of Persephone (Sephy), a Cross, played by Effie Ansah and Callum, a Nought, played by James Arden who have grown up together. They fall in love with each other but life gets more complicated when the Noughts are allowed to start attending the elite Crosses’ school.
Sephy’s family live a life of privilege, her father is political point scoring Home Secretary Kamal, played by Daniel Norford, and her mother, Jasmine, played by Amie Buhari, is an alcoholic. Sephy’s sister Minerva, played by Abiola Efunshile seems distant from her sister and the rest of the family, which could be a coping mechanism for dealing with the reality of her situation.
Callum is doing well in his studies at school. His brother is full of rage not least because his sister was racially attacked the previous year and the family have never moved on. His mum, Meggie, played by Emma Keele, wants to support Callum in his education, believing he has a good future, but his brother Jude, played by Nathaniel McCloskey, and father Ryan, played by Daniel Copeland, have other ideas.
Over time, everything becomes tainted by racism in society, infecting daily lives and ultimately affecting Sephy and Callum’s relationship.
The acting is superb and Simon Kenny’s infra red set is a really clever design. The backdrop serves multiple purposes throughout the play, setting the mood but also acting as functional elements when required. Desks and chairs are moved with ease to represent front rooms, schools and rest rooms. The terrorist bomb scene at the shopping centre with tables and chairs being upended and the cast moving in slow motion, is particularly effective.
As each scene progresses, you hope against hope that people will see what effect their actions are having on others but sadly this is not the case.
Noughts and Crosses tackles racism and prejudice in a way which will prompt discussion and hopefully inspire action.
Noughts & Crosses is at Curve until Saturday April 1st
Tickets £10-£28
