Imole Theatre’s production of Andrew Ashaye’s Our War shrewdly and sharply refocuses narratives of wartime nostalgia at the Jack Studio Theatre
“I always thought the war was far away”
Heaven knows we love a wartime story in this country, particularly where the Second World War is concerned. But for all the focus on subjects such as D-Day and Churchill, there are still stories that have been neglected, sacrifices made that have not been given due attention, a version of history crystallised that is too narrow in its scope. Andrew Ashaye’s Our War, produced at the Jack Studio Theatre by Imole Theatre, does its best to address this.
By following the story of two Nigerian cousins, at that point subjects of the British Empire, it tracks how people responded to the frankly outrageous call from the ‘Mother Country’ at a time of desperate need in the UK in return for – if we’re brutally honest – too little thanks, racist rhetoric and historical neglect. Christian (Ola Teniola) enlists in the army and along with 90,000 other African soldiers, is despatched to fight the Japanese in the jungles of Burma. Ola (Lola Oteh-Cole) arrives in Deptford to serve as a nurse just as the Blitz is about to hit. As each deals with the appalling daily realities of war, there’s an added layer of real pathos that comes from our realisation and recognition that this isn’t even really their war.
Kate Bannister’s direction, along with associate director Marley-Rose Liburd, is eloquent about the trauma it depicts – coats on the floor devastating in their simplicity in representing the aftermath of a bomb – Florence Hand’s sound design adding to a quietly moving sense of atmosphere which suits the steady flow of the narrative as it switches between the cousins. There’s such depth too in the correspondence between them, an acknowledgement that they can’t really be honest about how things really are when they’re trying to reassure loved ones.
Karl Swinyard’s set design cleverly plays with a space he knows so well (the skylight is a particularly lovely touch) to facilitate the shifts in location. Teniola and Oteh-Cole deliver their roles with emotive intelligence, a deep questioning alongside their motivated service. And Ashaye’s writing informs as much as it illustrates – Ola’s surprise at the number of black people already in the UK, the way in which racism persisted even at times of extreme crisis – and in the manner of all the best based-on-a-true-story stories, it ends with a gut punch of an informative epilogue.
Thank you for the review. So glad you liked the play. We all have lofty ideals for what we want the play to be and do, your review has touched on them.
Thanks for taking the time out to see it. Regards- Andrew Ashaye
Absolutely loved ‘Our War’ by Andrew Ashaye. A brilliant script , excellent production and acted so well. The story is informative and reveals little known facts about those drawn into the Second World War. It reveals unforgivable racism at a time when people should have been pulling together. Such a thought provoking piece of work, congratulations.
I was captivated by the acting right from the beginning to the end, as both Ola and Christian gave a great performance. I could relate to their remarks, was not suprised about the racism, and despite not understanding the words, loved the Yoruba phrases used as the message was clearly conveyed. A great play!!!