Guleraana Mir & afshan d’souza-lodhi’s play beautifully explores the friendship of two girls living in pre-partition India.
Freedom, friendship and politics are all merged into this beautifully written play that captures India on the brink of change as seen through the eyes of two innocent girls both with different ideas as to what their future looks like.
Santi & Naz spend their days reading books, teasing one another, swimming in the lake and spying on Rahul (who Santi develops a crush on). But bigger events threaten to tear them apart as India begins to change, forcing them to confront their very different ideas on their future. It is very much a coming of age story that reveals just how quickly both are forced to grow up – particularly in the wake of Naz becoming engaged to a tailor from the soon-to-be capital of Pakistan.
Throughout the 70 minutes, Guleraana Mir’s script (co-written by afshan d’souza-lodhi) covers a lot of topics and a lot of ground – but it feels as though it is slightly all over the place tone wise. One minute both characters are laughing and teasing each other, switching altogether a little too abruptly to a more sombre tone as it becomes increasingly clear that their friendship is unwillingly going to be torn apart through forces outside their control. It is clearly a play with a lot to say about arranged marriages, freedom of expression and political expression that just needs more room to breathe.
This is not to say that it is not engaging to watch unfold. Through Madelaine Moore’s classy and straightforward production, it is possible to feel a whole range of emotions and the audience is able to engage with both characters, whose distinctively different personalities shine through Aiyana Bartlett (Santi) and Farah Ashraf’s (Naz) sensitive performances. The strongest moments in the play actually reveal just how their friendship grows and changes: Shanti becoming increasingly focused on the changes that are going to be happening in the village that she has no intention of leaving – but not realising the danger that Rahul poses. in contrast Naz, despite not wanting to marry knowing it will affect her life deeply (particularly given the strength of her feelings for Santi).
Throughout there is a great poise and to the production that is reflected in the simplicity of the way in which the production has been styled. Sascha Gilmour’s rustic setting sweeps us into Santi and Naz’s world perfectly, while Laura Howard’s lighting design has a wonderful range and depth to it that subtly changes the scene and tone as required perfectly.
Bartlett and Ashraf’s performances show great depth and empathy towards their characters, highlighting the strength of their friendship perfectly – so you genuinely feel the sense of pain and loss that they feel by the end of the show. Ashraf as Naz in particular is particularly heartbreaking to watch as she struggles to deal with her feelings towards Santi and knowledge about that her upcoming marriage will not make her happy.
There is a real rawness throughout as the story unfolds, it is just a shame that some of the topics aren’t given more depth or room to breathe in order to give a fully rounded view of this important part of history. But overall, it is still as enjoyable as it is heartbreaking to watch.
By Emma Clarendon
Santi & Naz continues to play at the Soho Theatre until the 8th February.
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️