Find out what critics have had to say about Emteaz Hussain‘s play, running in London until the 21st December.
WhatsOnStage: *** “Despite the play’s sometimes overstuffed plot, one burning question rises above the fray: should women’s voices be heard, even if what they say will be weaponised against the men in their community? And that question is answered unequivocally.”
The Guardian: *** “Under the direction of Esther Richardson, there is much speaking aloud of the themes which in themselves are important ones, very much of our times, but they are waiting to be built upon by the drama.”
All That Dazzles: *** “Though Expendable is well-written, brilliantly staged and fantastically acted, I felt like it could go much further than it does. Beginning to unravel subjects but never quite getting there or stopping when it should be continuing, the play gave me the taste for more.”
The Arts Desk: **** “With enormous skill, Hussain outlines not only the sibling tensions between Zara and Yasmin, but also the social context of community life.”
Everything Theatre: *** “Expendable is an ambitious and thought-provoking piece of theatre, tackling complex issues in a layered narrative that refuses to simplify or sanitise the difficult conversations it brings to the fore.”
Time Out: *** “Under Esther Richardson’s direction, everyone is on the edge of snapping right from the start. Nerves remain high throughout, missing out on moments of softness and leaving little space for tension to ramp up when more bombshells drop from victim Jade (energetic Maya Bartley O’Dea) and Zara’s earnest activist daughter Sofia (Humera Syed, full of wide-eyed outrage).”
The Arts Dispatch: *** “Fortunately, the strength of the performances from Avita Jay and Lena Kaur in particular bring us right back to their characters’ reality. Their depiction of the ever-opposing but unbreakable bond between sisters is magic.”
Theatre Weekly: *** “Natasha Jenkin’s thrust stage setup seems immersive but essentially naturalistic, restoring Zara’s entirely new kitchen at Royal Court’s upstairs with the most accurate details. Yet it does little to elevate Hussain’s hesitant and uneven script. Together with Richardson’s directing, the whole production feels like a thinnest wedge of a rainbow cake, bragging about its multiple layers without true texture and flavour.”
The Reviews Hub: *** “Hussain leaves us with many unanswered questions, unnecessarily complex plotting, and characters that do not always feel rounded. The intent, however, is admirable, and quality performances mean there is much to enjoy in this sombre, thought-provoking piece.”
The Stage: **** “Potent drama giving a voice to British-Pakistani women caught up in a scandal.”
British Theatre Guide: “Expendable is a relatively short play that spreads its net widely: inbuilt prejudice in both white and Pakistani communities, Muslim misogyny, homophobia, the innocent trapped by hate and hysteria, faith issues and loyalties as well as grooming. It is more successful in its picture of family than in handling the many other problems it raises, but there is an undercurrent of frustration from these women in a man’s world. Has anything changed since this 2011 situation?”
To book tickets visit: https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/expendable/