Mohan: A Partition Story @ Pleasance Courtyard

Niall Moorjani is a performer gifted with the art of humour and storytelling, and the memory of his family history. A tender portrayal of the Partition of India in 1947, Mohan is named after Moorjani’s grandfather, whose voice and spirit imbue the play. A combination of sound, lighting techniques, two singular props, and Moorjani’s talent enables swift transitions from humour to seriousness, and from storyteller to historical figure. The tabla, played by Sodhi (Hardeep Deerhe), invigorates the narrative, rising and falling at moments of tension. This adds another layer of life to the minimalist production. In one scene, Sodhi misses the chance to imitate the British anthem, and this appears as much a technical error as an ultimate defiance against imperial customs. 

From the offset, Moorjani cultivates an intimate connection with the audience which renders his mode of historical narration digestible and memorable. By maintaining a consistent rhythm and rhyme, Moorjani manages to acknowledge various elements of the historical narrative at play. It is refreshing, albeit enraging, to hear and witness this particular history of colour; enraging because of the justice that feels out-of-reach towards the end, but refreshing because of Moorjani's caring approach to histories often distorted through the lens of empire. This production has seemingly taken a journey of changes over the years since its debut in 2021. This year, Moorjani leverages thosee iterations to put forward a refined work of immense clarity.

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Mohan: A Partition Story, Pleasance Courtyard (Above), until 31 Aug, 3.25pm, £15.50-£18.50