Anyone who doubts that hair is a political issue should try this new play from Somalia Seaton. Tackling the often vexed relationship that black women have with their locks, Seaton turns the work into an exploration of identity, ethnicity and belonging.
It’s an engaging start, as the seven willing actresses offer a plaintive lament to “dear white girl”, loved for her swishy tresses and catered for adequately by Boots. Indeed, Dawn Reid’s production, simply but strikingly mounted on a bare stage, is best when it feeds off this group dynamic and harnesses everyone in tandem. All seven are given lengthy monologues, most of which could benefit from some stringent editing.
There’s persuasive work from Allyson Ava-Brown as mixed-race Halfbreed — “You’re not white enough, you’re not black enough” — and from Toyin Ayedun-Alase as the proudly black Pickyead, with her dynamic use of slang (knowing what “blick butters” means helps considerably here). Yet no matter how far we roam, to debates on interracial dating and beyond, we return to our roots, follicular and otherwise. To weave or not to weave: that is the question.
Until Nov 9 (020 8534 0310, stratfordeast.com)
