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Invasion!

This event has now finished Until Feb 19 2011 Selkirk Pub, 60 Selkirk Rd, SW17 0ES Full details & map

Theatre: Fringe

Critics' choice
© Jocelyn Hoare

Time Out says   Rate it

Posted: Mon Feb 7 2011

Who is Abulkasem? Initially, in this sassy, street-smart production about Muslim identity, he's an archetypal Arab marauder in Swedish literary giant Carl-Jonas-Love Almqvist's 1835 play, 'Signora Luna'. Before long, two hoodie-wearing boys from the stalls interrupt a straight performance of this classic, rudely co-opting the dramatic action.

For Arvind and Co, Abulkasem is an act of linguistic banditry, and later a desperate chat-up line in a downtrodden bar. Arvind's dramatic heist turns out to be the first of many in Swedish writer Jonas Hassen Khemiri's dazzlingly meta-dramatic play.

For a panel of Swedish academics, Abulkasem is a jihadi terrorsit; for a harassed young student in a bar he is a brilliant Arab female theatre director; to a marooned Bosnian refugee he's a vague racist threat; and, tying all these disparate tales together, Abulkasem is a news item, starring the playwright's younger brother.

Director Jamie Harper propels this theatrical Escher print forwards at a furious pace, and cumulatively the shards of dramatic styles and scenarios make a perfect, deranged sense: Muslims in the West today stare into just such a broken mirror of irreconcilable mythologies. The four-strong cast is assured, Mariam Haque and William El-Gardi in particular deliver mercurial comic performances in their myriad incarnations. And while Khemiri's unending Pirandellian tricks occasionally tire, this constitutes a cracking debut from Tooting Arts Club - a fringe production of the first order.

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Selkirk Pub

60 Selkirk Rd, SW17 0ES

Transport Tooting Broadway 

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0845 680 1926

http://www.oxboffice.com

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Comments & ratings

By Antoinette - Feb 19 2011

A fabulous play!! Very well done to an amazing cast and skilled director. An absolute must see - and enjoy the nice pub, too!

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By John Weatherall - Feb 11 2011

Must first experience of Pub Theatre and what a show to pick. Came away wanting to tell the whole world to see this type of Theatre where you are in the heart of the stage enjoying a fantastic and topical play. Did not know you can get such great acting at such reasonable ticket prices. PS I do not work for their Marketing Department

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By nuvola bianca tivoli - Feb 8 2011

A must see! Wonderful cast, great directing...a brilliant production!!! Enjoy the pub before and after the show!!!

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By Hannah Bisset - Feb 8 2011

An incredible first play from the newly formed Tooting Arts Club! A refreshing choice, both topical and engaging - just what the doctor ordered. A thoroughly enjoyable night and well worth the trip to Tooting. Thank-you Tooting Arts Club, what’s next?

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By Jude - Feb 8 2011

A very topical and thought provoking piece. Well acted , well directed and well worth the trip to Tooting--nice pub too.

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By Jude - Feb 8 2011

A very topical and thought provoking play. Well acted, well directed and a great start for the newly formed Tooting Arts Club. Go and see it!

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By tony cotton - Feb 8 2011

intelligent, thought provoking play, very well presented worth making the effort to see even if you have to travel on a cold damp winter evening.

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