Wolves on Road – Bush Theatre, London

Writer: Beru Tessema

Director: Daniel Bailey

Wolves on Road is a new work by Beru Tessema, directed by Bush Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director, Daniel Bailey. It can be difficult to find the balance of challenging intellectual topics with emotional impact, but Wolves on Road does this successfully, particularly in the second act.

The text investigates a myriad of ideas with nuance and curiosity, leaving the audience to come to their own conclusions. It explores the links between financial literacy and generational wealth, and the systemic racism within financial institutions and its particular effect on the Black community. This is offset by the storyline of a young man stuck in war-torn Libya, which gives a sense of perspective while also reflecting the macro consequences of poverty.

The play also explores how people can escape their circumstances, and Wolves on Road investigates these ideas in a deeply character-driven way, never lecturing but presenting strong points of view.
The references to Covid and lockdown set us in a very specific time period, which may not be necessary for the success of the story. If anything, these references take the audience out of the moment, instead thinking of their own Covid experience.

The play is laugh-out-loud funny, thanks to the vibrant, embodied performances of Kieran Taylor-Ford and Hassan Najib. The dialogue cracks along and is full of the authenticity of people with a deep understanding of dialect. This humour is balanced by heartfelt moments, particularly scenes involving Ery Nzaramba, who is charming and moving. He carries the story of his missing son with gravity without any sense of self-pity.

Bailey’s direction builds an unexpected tension throughout and finds a real sense of light and shade in the piece. The Act One ending feels slightly underplayed or misplaced, leaving us on less than a cliffhanger. However, the investment in characters keeps us wanting to come back.

There is a seamless use of technology integrated into the storytelling. This clever use of phone calls and video screens elevates without overuse. The other design elements are slightly underwhelming but clear.

A thought-provoking show that finds humour and love in the quest for more.

Runs until 21 December 2024