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...blackbird hour | Bush Theatre

babirye bukilwa’s play …blackbird hour is complicated, tense, and joyously unconventional. Within this nuance, this show finds its rhythm - ebbing and flowing like the ocean, between lucidity and turbidity.


The story follows Eshe, who is by all accounts, having a very intense manic depressive episode. She is holed up in a flat, refusing to let the people she loves in (emotionally and mentally). The show touches on themes of self-love and self-harm, all through the lens of being a black woman.


The constant tension throughout the play, between Eshe and her ex-girlfriend Ella, and Eshe and her best friend Michael - we start to realise that deep down Eshe is struggling with love. She is struggling with the meaning of it, how it plays out into her life, how she might show love and desire, but also how fundamentally unlovable she thinks she is.



While that all sounds pretty stereotypical in the world of theatre, I promise you that this show is far more nuanced than that. The show itself is powerful at times - but ultimately does not land on any one singular point or issue. In a way, it does feel a bit like a slice of life play - where we as the audience are there to observe. At first, this might leave you feeling untethered and confused. But the deeper you go, the more you feel liberated that you may draw your own conclusions from what you see.


Danielle Kassaraté plays Sissy - Eshe’s mum. While it is just her voice and face that can be seen, she feels like such a strong presence in the room. Evlyne Oyedokun is incredibly moving as Eshe. She plays the nuances of Eshe so well, you are mesmerised by her performance and her brilliant physicality. Ivan Oyik is also fantastic as Michael. The scenes between Michael and Eshe are packed with tension, and the energy never drops despite their time together on stage being the longest in the show. And Olivia Nakintu is wonderfully grounded as Ella. Her performance towards the end of the show is brilliant, as she plays so much within the spaces between her dialogue. Her physicality is fantastic, making the more hard hitting scenes at the end even that much more powerful.


The show itself is well crafted, thanks to malakaï sargeant’s strong direction. We’re sucked into the world of this one flat through excellent set and lighting design - Khadija Raza is the designer and Jahmiko Marshall is the lighting designer. Through the use of a detailed set, gorgeous lighting, projected backdrops, and fantastic creative captioning, this show feels like one totally cohesive piece. All the elements of design were so well woven, that even the captioning felt like it was always meant to be there.



The only issue with the piece is the editing that was done. After reading the script after the show, I realised that a lot had to be cut in this version. The bits of text that were taken out really lended itself to making a clearer and more compelling storyline. Understandably these would have been cut for time, but perhaps other monologues that were featured should have been reconsidered. Eshe’s long monologue in the middle of the show could definitely have been cut differently and trimmed down in places. Alternatively, they could have done the entire scripted version and simply had it be a longer show with an interval. An hour and 20 minutes felt like a lot, especially without a clear plot line and without an interval.


While this show feels extremely heavy at times, it is a beautifully crafted piece of theatre that feels very original and thought-provoking. It shakes up tradition and expectation and leaves you with more questions than answers - but that’s part of the joy.


....blackbird hour runs at Bush Theatre until 01st March.

★★★★☆ (4*)





Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Seye Isikalu

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