(Can This Be) Home? @ Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
As Brexit rumbles on and on and on, Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir and Tom Oakes' (Can This Be) Home? is an impressive and honest account of what the referendum has done to them
Did you know that it’s been almost three years since the Brexit vote? In this time, have you recently thought about what you like about this country? What makes the UK your home? How would you feel if that home was going to be taken away from you?
These are just some of the questions raised in (Can This Be) Home?, the new work by playwright and performer Kolbrún Björt Sigfúsdóttir and musician Tom Oakes to present the disbelief, uncertainty and amazement that Brexit has brought them in a time where the questions never stop.
The two are on separate sides of the stage with a microphone each. There’s a clear division marked by a tape deck and a pile of sand. It’s a simple presentation of two individual people embracing different styles and taking part in a broken conversation. Whilst Sigfúsdóttir delivers poetry and spoken word, Oakes reads a book, and whilst Oakes plays his tunes, Sigfúsdóttir slowly builds and destroys houses in the sand.
Sigfusdottir’s writing is cleverly detailed and swimming with imagery. But most importantly, it’s personal and it’s honest. There are some refreshing moments of joy as she shares her perspective of the UK’s beauty, but as an Icelandic native, she also raises some really saddening points. To give you a taste of her style, she describes us all experiencing Brexit as “children dealing with their parents messy divorce.” Her soft delivery draws you to her every word and her story is invaluable.
On the other hand you have Oakes offering some comedic value with his quirky stories and anecdotes. Not only that, he is a brilliantly energetic musician who takes you on a tiny tour of the world with his instruments and original music.
The piece is very much a response to the current political climate, it’s giving you a glimpse of these people’s lives. Although the structure is repetitive, the presentation is nostalgic, worldly and insightful. As long as the uncertainty continues, so will the questions and the responses. What’s important is that we listen to each other’s stories.
kolbrunbjort.com
tomoakesmusic.co.uk