International Touring Theatre Company, Pilot Theatre deserve huge kudos for this gripping, emotional and raw adaptation of Malorie Blackmans young adult novel by Sabrina Mahfouz.
A captivating story of a segregated society where the white-skinned people ‘the Noughts’ and the dark-skinned people, ‘the Crosses’ have different rights and power. A society where Capital Punishment exists, Noughts cannot drink orange juice, own mobile phones or go to school, that is until a scholarship is created for a small number of Nought children to attend the Cross School. This is a story that looks at what it is like to be judged by the colour of your skin.
Sephy (Effie Ansah), the Home Secretary’s youngest daughter is a Cross. A Cross in love with a Nought called Callum (James Arden). But society doesn’t allow a Cross and a Nought to be friends, let alone lovers. The two star-crossed lovers end up having to endure many trials and tribulations in both their lives as the world around them and within them is filled with sadness, loss and injustice. This is a love that never was meant to happen. A modern day Romeo and Juliet.
Did I cry during this show? I did. At one particular scene in the first half, a tear rolled down my cheek as I felt the pain deep inside. A sign of superb acting if I’m feeling the sadness and hurt being portrayed on the stage.
I am sad as we are twenty years on from the writing of this novel and yet, I don’t feel as a society that we are any further forward with change than the days that this novel was written.
Looking around the theatre, it was filled with school trips, families, adults. A wide range of ages. This isn’t a performance just for young adults. This is a show for everyone.
I am happy to hear that the book this production is adapted around, is now studied in schools as part of English Literature. It gives an important message. A message of hope for change as we move through the generations. Nobody should be judged or treated differently based on their skin colour and I hope novels like Malorie Blackmans and adaptations like Sabrina Mahfouz keep educating the future generations.
Effie Ansah and James Arden were absolutely fabulous as Sephy and Callum. A faultless performance from both. Owning the stage whilst on it. Gaining giggles from some of the teenagers in the audience who got excited at certain moments in scene two (I don’t want to spoil the show).
It is a strong cast as a whole with superb performances from Daniel Copeland as Ryan and Nathaniel Mccloskey as Jude.
Simon Kenny has managed to design a set and costumes that keep you gripped. Red, claustrophobic use of lighting by Ben Cowen. A clever use of tables, boxes that lit up and walls that open up as doors and cupboards. Lighting that changes the stage in the matter of a flash.
The video design by Ian William Galloway was brilliant. Such a fabulous idea.
Everyone from the cast, creatives and production team should be proud of what they have created.
Noughts and Crosses is at The Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 19th November 2022 with tickets from just £13. Book here.
Disclaimer: I was invited along to the press event. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.