Mulberry Theatre Company return to the Fringe for the seventh time to dive into the history of one house through the centuries, as told by the spirits of Huguenot weavers who once lived there…
We meet a Bangladeshi family, the Hussains, living in Brick Lane in 1985 amid tumultuous protests and the threat of eviction. Having lost their father to a heart attack, Ariya, Bilal and Musa muddle by with their mother Saffiya; unbeknownst to her, Ariya has joined the local youth Bangladeshi activism group just like her father, and Musa is in danger of following her lead…
As well as providing commentary, the ghost troupe give historical context using contemporary videos and photos of events like The Battle of Cable Street, Altab Ali’s murder, and the rise of the NF. It’s fear of the racists that drive many Hussain family decisions like choosing safe routes home from school, relying on their local Bangladeshi community, and frowning on taking part in counter-protests; Ariya’s friend Khadija would rather play it safe but as Ariya proclaims, ‘I don’t want to shrink away’. Taking up space is reclaiming it, as Ariya demonstrates with a powerful, rousing speech at the protest.
The young cast, all aged 13-18 from five Mulberry schools, really shone, including the brave soul standing in for one of the ghosts when an actor became ill before the performance. One House On Brick Lane conveys its message of solidarity and diversity with confidence, and these actors have a bright future ahead of them.
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One House On Brick Lane is at theSpace Surgeons Hall from Aug 7-15 at 13:20