True Brits @ Assembly Hall

Review by Leonie Walters | 09 Sep 2014

True Brits is Vinay Patel’s engaging one-man show about a first love and post 7/7 racial alienation in London. Sid Sagar is exquisitely affable as Rahul, and draws the audience in with a wide-eyed charm that suits his teenage role.

The excitement of school exams, an Iraq war protest, and London acquiring the 2012 Olympics are in the air as Rahul’s own life develops into that of a young adult. Sagar vividly paints Rahul’s triumphs and failures, and even the characters that don’t appear on stage come to life in his capable hands.

The production is an exceedingly bare one, and the only noteworthy prop is a hoodie that takes Sagar from scene to scene and from one part of London to another. Apart from that, it helps the audience see him like the threatening presence he becomes in the eyes of some Londoners after 7/7. Helped by a garment and Sagar’s storytelling prowess, the audience can feel Rahul’s tension and frustration slowly building up until they culminate in a dramatic high (or low) point. Oddly, Rahul maintains his air of innocence throughout his darkest moments. The piece could benefit from a slight increase in ambiguity in his self-perception, but overall it is a skilfully told tale with real depth.

Rich Mason Productions in association with HighTide Festival Theatre: True Brits, Assembly Hall, run ended http://hightide.org.uk/event/true_brits_-_edinburgh_festival