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‘Freshen up for the punani, punani, punani...’ Anyone who’s been into the toilets of a certain type of nightclub will know the familiar call of the attendants. In exchange for a couple of quid, they'll douse you in fragrance, give you a lollipop and send you on your way. Atiha Sen Gupta’s two-hander play gives them a voice in the form of Nigerian couple Abiodun (Lanre Malaolu) and Sophie (Estella Daniels).
The set-up of Pooja Ghai’s production of Atiha Sen Gupta's newplay is sort-of immersive: you get your hand stamped on the way in, buy a drink at the bar, and take a seat at cabaret-style tables. This is Paradise: a Woolwich nightclub where the pair work, and first met. Sophie is cheerful about her vocation, chatting horoscopes with her customers, lining up her perfumes with pride. Abiodun is less sunny, resentful of his wasted physics degree, his exorbitant rent and the nightly affront to his dignity as he mops up sick and brushes off casual racism.
Other characters are introduced through impersonation: Abiodun mimics the tight-fisted club owner; Sophie a heartbroken customer. Both actors ably manage the swift transitions from West African accents into Saaf London – but having them carry the story forward of the course of an hour in this way feels like a tall order. And if keeping them separated in their respective toilets is a deliberate move, it’s nonetheless a shame – as Malaolu and Daniels are so likeable. 'Counting Stars' may not always feel entirely sure of itself, but it casts a vital light on a precarious labour that's all too often forgotten in a drunken haze, behind a set of swing doors.