Theatre Reviews

Redemption Song

Banner Theatre
Chat’s Palace, Hackney, London, March ‘97.
Review by Sam Beale

Squall 15, Summer 1997, pg. 54.

Banner Theatre’s current show, Redemption Song, is a blend of stories, music and physical theatre and the Company’s hallmarked use of recorded interviews and slide projections. The production deals broadly with racism, specifically highlighting the experiences of political refugees and asylum seekers.

It focusses on the story of a 16-year old woman, Djeneba, who fled police torture and rape in the Ivory Coast for her role in organising a peaceful student demonstration. When she arrived in this country Djeneba was held at Campsfield detention centre in Oxfordshire. She went on prolonged hunger strike to protest for her release.

The show crystallises the history of British imperialism in African nations and its disastrous repurcussions for these countries in the 1990s: “take one colonial nation... 3, 4, maybe 5 African states... drain their resources... sell them guns... sit back and watch the fun...,” says the presenter of an African cookery programme ‘A Recipe for Disaster’. The hypocrisy inherent in this process in the light of growing racism in European immigration policies is clear.

One section of the show tells the story of Liverpool Dockers visiting workers in Instanbul where they witnessed police brutally breaking up a peaceful demonstration by women and children protesting against the ‘disappearances’ of family and friends. This scene is performed in front of a series of projections of tourist images of ‘Turkey - Infinite Paradise’ including a shot of a speed boat and ecstatic water-skiier whilst the cast sing ‘while you’re sunning yourself so calmly/the death squad are keeping the peace...’

This section was particularly potent because it placed an ‘ordinary’ English bloke - a Liverpool Docker - in the midst of a situation few English people have experienced. The horrors of persecution and torture, and the inhumanity of blatantly racist immigration policies are presented pulling so few punches in this show that it’s all a bit much to take on board as you go to the bar for a refill.

Through hearing his recorded voice the audience becomes aware of the Docker’s anger, confusion and fear and is able to identify with his sense of humility that, however difficult his own situation, he is lucky to be going home to Liverpool.

The strength of this production is the vitality of its music and the strong physical performances given by all members of the cast. The music varies from diddly folk to strong African beats; amazing drumming defines the rhythm of the piece, focussing the physicality of the performers and height ening their spoken words.

As ever Banner walk that brave line between humour and outrage. The over-riding message for British audiences is summed up as asylum seekers sing the song ‘No Deportations’: “We’re here because you’re there...”

Banner Theatre are touring Redemption Song up and down the country until the end of July.

For details of performances contact:
Banner Theatre,
Friends Institute,
220 Moseley Road,
Highgate, Birmingham B12 0DG.
Tel: 0121 440 0460.