Review: ear for eye, Royal Court

A 16-strong ensemble storms the Royal Court stage in debbie tucker green's latest play, which shows snapshots of black British and African-American experiences in our contemporary day. Directed by the playwright herself, it's a hard-hitting offering that has no problems in laying out the brutal truth of the subject.

As an audience, we're gifted with rhythmic poetry and an undeniable intent. green's beats are precise and to the point, and the clarity of her storytelling is second to none. She interrogates her own form, before breaking it down and re-creating it into something totally different. The script is incredibly complex, but doesn't ever feel tricky to understand.

That doesn't mean it never alienates. Less concerned with story and more with action, green has a no-holds-barred approach to the topic. One of the main questions she asks is 'What does it mean to be black today?', and the answers presented are different with each ensemble interaction. However, there is one factor that unites them: the world is hostile to people of colour.

Tosin Cole's young activist argues that petitioning has had its day, and real action needs to be taken. Struggling with self-restraint, the radical Cole gives a brilliant performance as someone who's had enough. His older mentor - played by Nicholas Pinnock - seeks a more measured approach, offering campaign and patience.

There's a real urgency in every character's story, and green's writing repeats to show the similarities of oppression across all sides of the world. Her writing is chaotic and dangerous, and she allows it to demonstrate how powerful language can be, how certain words can be reclaimed and how her script can be - and is - a call to action.

ear for eye is a tidal wave of honesty that teaches, entices and attacks. A sobering provocation, this is an urgent production that requires attention.

ear for eye at Royal Court until 24 November

Photo credit: Stephen Cummiskey

To post a comment, you must register and login.