Wish You Were Here – Gate Theatre, London

Writer: Sanaz Toossi

Director: Sepy Baghaei

Through the lens of friendship, Wish You Were Here follows five women navigating life in Iran from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, showing the delicate balances of connection and separation amidst immense political and personal change.

The play opens with a tender image: five friends doting on each other as Salme prepares for her wedding. There is innocence in the air, a calm before the storm of wedding night consummations and war restrictions a couple of years later, which will change their lives irrevocably. The women share intimate and unfiltered discussions revealing their dreams, doubts, and desires. Over time, these conversations shift, becoming more reflective given the huge life events and political changes they experience.

Each character brings a unique energy: Salme’s initial naiveté gives way to a kindness in how she treats everyone, while Rana, the group’s only Jewish friend, embodies a vibrant presence whose sudden absence leaves a palpable void. Shideh, particular in her own peculiar yet enchanting way, aspires to study abroad, while Zari adapts to her surroundings, her steadfast joy carrying her through shifting alliances. Nazanin’s journey, central to the narrative, shows her grappling with her own evolving vision for her life amid the group’s changing dynamic.

Sanaz Toossi deftly integrates the political and historical landscape into the fabric of these relationships, capturing the complexity of each woman’s journey with sensitivity. She has a remarkable gift for authentic dialogue; there is an easy rhythm in their exchanges, which feel both unguarded and relatable. The poetic ending brings the play full circle, eloquently expressing profound themes of identity and home in a heartbreaking way.

Sepy Baghaei’s direction shines in the symbolic movement transitions that vividly convey the passage of time and historical shifts. These transitions also visually express the changing balance of power and intimacy within the group.

The cast captures the sincerity of friendship with solid chemistry that brings warmth to each scene. Occasionally, however, portrayals can feel overly infantilised as well as lacking true impact of certain emotional moments.

Cara Evans’ costume design captures the characters’ individual identities through vibrant colours that shift into sombre black as war darkens their world, subtly reflecting fashion’s evolution and the characters’ inner transformations. Likewise, Matt Haskins’ lighting design employs a top-panel colour scheme to define different moments, guiding the audience through the different moments of the women’s lives and the world they inhabit.

Wish You Were Here is an intricate story weaving a nuanced tapestry of friendship, change, and resilience against the backdrop of revolution. In the end, we are left with a profound connection to these women and a sense of the enduring ties between them, even as life pulls them apart.

Runs until 23 November 2024