Stage Review of Community A Drama / Comedy

Sayyid Aki (Khalil) in the play Community

at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Feb 2025

Photography Graeme Braidwood

Community 

Writer, Farrah Chaudry

Directed by Alice Chambers

With her suitcase and designer bags in tow, Zoya loiters near a Birmingham bus route south of the centre. She is secretly relieved when her plan succeeds and she comes across an old aquaintance, the benevolent Leyla. Zoya remembered that Leyla lived locally (somewhere between Cannon Hill Park and Moseley) and that she could pretty much rely on her for putting her up for a while.

Leyla already has a housemate, Syrian refugee, Khalil, nonetheless, the mismatched trio embark on a flat share. It soon becomes apparent that Zoya's rich parents have cut her off, albeit temporarily. Leyla however, is adamant that Zoya does not freeload and insists she joins herself and Khalil down at the community centre by volunteering and helping the homeless and people in crisis.

The key portrayal is of Khalil, a migrant living in the city... a kind and gentle character who writes and ultimately performs his own poetry in which he is able to channel his feelings of loss and displacement in his own words. Zoya is keenly placed to present a person who has lived an indulgent life as a comparison, whereas Leyla is upholding her mother's legacy of being a community champion of sorts.

Kerena Jagpal (Leyla), Sabrina Nabi (Zoya), Sayyid Aki (Khalil) in the play Community

at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Feb 2025

Photography Graeme Braidwood

This is a story of the multicultural Birmingham that Farrah Chaudry knows firsthand. An empathic writer in regard to conveying people's perceptions of belonging and offers up a sense of sadness in part, though there are a good few funny quips in the script too about the well versed views of local Birmingham people in that regard.

Many writers have explored the idea of what makes a community in the broader sense of the word and this is another completely rational, thought provoking exploration of that said same subject; Community is a new play on a topical theme.

Another benefit however, that involves the word community, namely community education and so we must be thankful that Chaudrey's little play with a big heart has been brought to stage, premiering at Birmingham's Repertory Theatre (Thursday 30 January – Saturday 8 February). Education is key, thank goodness for the arts and its power to reach people in their shared communities where other channels fail.

With an engaging cast of three players, the Community team(s) will tour West Midland's community settings after its short spell at The Rep and will be well received, without question.

**ENDS**

Review by theatre critic, Debra Hall who attended the 2pm performance of Community at The Door, Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Thursday 06 Feb 2025

REFERENCES


Birmingham Rep PRESS RELEASE: Cast announcement for Community 06 January 2025

Birmingham Rep Community Production Pictures. Credit Graeme Braidwood 04 February 2025

https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/community/#event-booking


https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/community/#cast-creative-team