Writer: Anna Ahmed
Director: Mina Anwar
Some years ago Ann Ahmed wrote down some memories of her early life growing up in Laygate. She contacted Executive Director of The Customs House Ray Spencer, asking if he would be interested, Ray said yes and so her story started its journey. Recently additional text was added by the director Mina Anwar, (director and choreographer of The Dolly Mixtures) and Natasha Haws.
Abdoul (Jerome Ngonadi) begins the show setting the scene and location. The action then really takes off with an animated burst of activity, neighbours chatting and children playing. Set in Laygate in the late sixties, the story of Maggie Ibrahim (Natasha Atkinson) and her three children, Alana ( Mahsa Hammat Bahary), Zara (Melissa Sert) and Daniel (Soroosh Lavasani) unfolds. The three ‘children’ bring a fun filled, youthful exuberance to the show. They interact well with Abdul’s daughter, Yusra (Akeesha Adamus).
The Scottish Maggie married the cook David Ali Ibraham, an Arab, and is waiting for him to return home after a two-year absence working on the ships. Maggie is ostracised by her family and weighed down with poverty and prejudice: living in Laygate in the 60’s was not easy. The friendship of neighbour, Mo (Sarah Boulter), helps keep Maggie going. Racism and prejudice is represented by self-opinionated neighbour Moira Collins (Christina Berriman Dawson).
They all prepare to be rehoused by the council as their slum homes are set to be demolished. With no news of David’s return, everyone rallies round, trying to enjoy their last week’s together, looking to the future with hope of a better life.
Casting junior school children is not easy and the four actors who played children give convincing performances, especially Soroosh Lavasani, playing someone at least a third of his age.
The cast and crew are to be congratulated on the production; Anwar’s skilled hand directing and use of staging ensures that the story flows and the set (Gareth Hunter, John Rainsforth, Mina Anwar) enhances the action. The entire cast bring their characters to life, giving believable performances.
It is hard to beat a true story, which this is; there are numerous scenes involving monologues, dialogues and groups, which show the influence of various hands and styles. Abduol delivers an excellent monologue which may be further enriched in a duologue, where he would have someone to play it off. While the humorous action and jokes give a light-hearted feel to the show, the real hardship and degradation which these characters endured is not evident, more indication of their true circumstances would enrich the story, giving more honesty to the gritty tale it is.
Laygate is a good example of an integrated society, being a tight knit multicultural community. The first Arabs are believed to have come to South Shields in the late 1880’s reaching 4,000 in number at one point; South Shields has the oldest built purpose Mosque in Britain and the oldest British Muslim community, a rich history. This is an important piece of South Shields history that needs and deserves to be preserved.
Ahmed, The Customs House and South Shields have every right to feel proud that they have told this story and shared it with us; a story well worth telling and seeing.
Runs until 11th September 2021
The Reviews Hub Score
Human
