REVIEWS REVIEWS
This play is not so much talking to terrorists as relaying experiences with terrorists. Certainly the audience will be made aware of the things not before cogitated. The younger element will take what they hear on the news more seriously in future, without seeing a laugh in everyday events. The start draws you in with humour, as the unsuspecting laugh before they realise the grief they are witnessing and the reality of it hits home. The twelve concrete slabs of scenery stand like grave stones, foreboding, reminding, they are the work of Jonathan Fensom, nothing else is needed to make you feel uneasy. This is the work of Robin Soans who has spent many hours researching snippets of fearful unease so that he can weave them together into the flowing play meant to provoke his audience. Director Max Stafford-Clark does the rest.
We start with Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mollem trying to come to terms with her job. Other situations across the world follow as a psychologist tries to explain what motivates people to do these despicable things to their fellow human beings. He does not succeed.
The cast take many roles as they tell their stories and make the audience feel uneasy. Chipo Chung, Jonathan Cullen, Christopher Ettridge, Alexander Hanson, Lloyd Hutchinson, Catherine Russell, Chris Ryman and June Watson are the actors who take on the task.
This is a go and see it play which will change your perspective of how you take in the news in the future. It leaves one big question, "How do you stop terrorism? © BA
“Talking to Terrorists” is in Leeds on the 10th May until the 14th May, 2005 then continues touring. Council car parking charge £1 from 5.30pm.
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