Who Will Carry the Word

Who Will Carry the Word
The Courtyard Theatre
Based on the writings of Charlotte Delbo
Directed by Natasha Pryce
Produced by Roberts Pryce & Co
9th June – 5th July 2008


Reviewed by Rachel Sheridan for the British Theatre Guide

No matter how many books you read or plays and films you watch about the atrocities that occurred in Auschwitz and the other prisoner of war camps during World War II, it never ceases to shock. On the one hand it depicts mankind at its absolute weakest and depraved and simultaneously demonstrates the strength and kindness of the human spirit.

Whilst the barbarity of World War II is far behind us, across the world similar, senseless acts of violence against mankind continue to take place. This is the reasoning behind plays such as Who Will Carry the World; by making the personal the political, these issues are brought to the forefront of our minds and cannot be ignored.

Based on the true account of Charlotte Delbo who was part of the French Résistance and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942, Who Will Carry the Word tells the story of a group of female prisoners who befriend each other and struggle to survive in horrific circumstances.

The truth is brutal and painful to hear and a script such as this could only be based on the writings of someone who has experienced such torture first hand. This stripped back performance under the superb direction of Natasha Pryce allows the stories; the words, to literally speak for themselves.

The all female, multi cultural cast are vulnerable, raw and exposed in their sensitive handling of the subject matter. Avoiding the temptation to completely breakdown on stage, they portray the strength, courage and solidarity of these women who often didn’t even know each others names. As they deal with starvation, humiliation, family dying, babies being dowsed in petrol and then set alight and watching as rats chew at body parts of their friends who are too crippled with illness to move; they miraculously soldier on. Of course we know these stories already from previous memoirs of other courageous survivors but as I said; it never ceases to shock.

The excellent Esin Harvey as Francoise steps out to address the audience, explaining that what we cannot see and will probably (hopefully) never fully understand. The cast move as a whole, as they shiver and shudder, rub themselves and each other to keep warm and shield themselves from attack. However, Who Will Carry the Word is not just a story of tragic despair; it is a story of bravery and sacrifice. The women individually share their hopes and dreams as a way of escaping from the horror that is their life and it is these acts of courage that are the most painful to watch.

Delbo felt a moral obligation to raise the “past from its ashes to carry the world”, in order to prevent the world from letting this happen again. This production is a testament to her will and whilst often painful to watch we owe it to these women to listen to the stories that many of them never got the chance to tell.

Hit Me – The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury

Hit Me – The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury
The Courtyard Theatre
Presented by Irving Rappaport and Playback Theatre
Written & Directed by: Jeff Merrifield

Reviewed by Rachel Sheridan for The British Theatre Guide
27th November 2008

There are those who are familiar with the world of punk and 80’s rock and those that are not. For those who are, Hit Me – The Life and Rhymes of Ian Dury provides the opportunity to wander down; or probably it is more accurate to say, go on a rampage through memory lane. For those who are not, myself included, one would hope to get an introduction to this world that you wouldn’t forget, leaving you hungry for more. However whilst you may leave with a flavour of what this provocative era was like, it’s hardly revolutionary.

After a successful run in Edinburgh for which Jud Charlton received a best actor nomination for his role as Ian Dury, Hit Me has come to London’s East End where it most definitely has a fan base ready and waiting. Chronicling his life from the start of his success in the 80’s to 2000 when he died of cancer, Hit Me aims to not only re-visit his music but also to look at the complex man behind the angry facade that was Ian Dury.

It is understandable why Charlton received his nomination. His physical characterisation of Dury (who contracted polio as a young boy from a local swimming pool) is impeccable and he has a real twinkle in his eye as this man who craves attention and is desperate to create a reaction. However at times his performance slips into that of a caricature as does Josh Darcy as roadie, Fred ‘Spider’ Rowe. Absolutely these characters are larger than life but some scenes become very reminiscent of an episode of the “Young Ones” which of course was a deliberate parody.

Punk was a revolution; it was a reaction to the music of disco not to mention the political and economical environment from which it emerged and yet Hit Me feels safe, it doesn’t break any rules, unless you count the completely indulgent overuse of the F word and C word.

Having said this for fans of this era they will love seeing one of their favourite punk stars reborn on stage. Over the three chapters Dury revels stories from his childhood, the inspiration behind certain songs and gossip from the tour bus, including that of his turbulent relationship with the band The Blockheads, and of course it’s a chance to see classic tracks such as “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” and the scandalous “Spasticus Autisticus” performed.

So whilst Hit Me didn’t leave me wanting to dye my hair pink and attach my nose ring to my ear via some sort of chain, for those with punk already in their blood I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to be hit by Dury’s rhythm stick.