Theatre / Reviews
Review: Noughts and Crosses, Theatre Royal Bath – ‘Powerful, engaging, and important for everyone’
Noughts and Crosses is the celebrated Malorie Blackman book that’s set in a world where dark-skinned people (“Crosses”) hold power over light-skinned people (“Noughts”). This adaptation by Pilot Theatre is the second for theatre, after the RSC’s in 2007, and the BBC’s TV adaptation in 2020.
As I said when reviewing the brilliant Blue Door, which was about the experience of being black in a white world, ‘Can I really come to this and offer insight?’ It’s the tricky bit of the critic’s job: where art exposes social structures to scrutiny, no-one can stand above those structures. All we can do is be aware of where we stand when we comment, and know that what we see and say is limited by that.
So. Should you take children who’re studying the book at school? Yes. My (white) 12 year-old thought it was “brilliant”. While he’s regularly been part of conversations about skin colour, power and privilege, seeing a story like this unfold on stage is a rare opportunity for someone who’s white to start to get a sense of what racial oppression really is and does. It had a visceral impact on him, leaving him sad and angry at the world depicted: “but the problem is, this is real – this is happening now”.
is needed now More than ever
Effie Ansah as Sephy and James Arden as Callum
Daniel Copeland (Ryan), Nathaniel McCloskey (Jude), James Arden (Callum), Emma Keele (Meggie) – photo: Robert Day
Did I think it was a great piece of theatre? Pilot Theatre’s primary goal isn’t, I believe, to create an outstanding drama. They’re here to share an important story.
They excel at presenting the YA novel’s pacy story (and it is very much a YA – young adult – novel with many of those necessary ‘growing up’ tropes). They do this both faithfully and to a high standard with a good cast, great design (Simon Kenny), music and sound (Arun Ghosh and Xana), and lighting (Ben Cowens).
James Arden as Callum and Tom Coleman as Andrew Dorn – photo: Robert Day
Emma Keele (Meggie), Abiola Efunshile (Kelani), James Arden (Callum) – photo: Robert Day
Our leads are Sephy, daughter of the Home Secretary (Effie Ansah) and Callum, son of Effie’s family’s housekeeper (James Arden). Over the years, carefree childhood friendship is pressurised by the toxic seepage of racism into every level of society and relationship. It is inescapable. Every moment of every life is impacted by racist power’s consequences. But there is – always – hope.
Noughts and Crosses brings the book’s powerful story to young people in an engaging way, and as the story is important for everyone, but one that’s all too rare, I’d recommend you go. You have just one week.
Daniel Copeland (Ryan), James Arden (Callum), Nathaniel McCloskey (Jude) – photo: Robert Day
Noughts and Crosses is at Theatre Royal Bath until March 4, at 7.30pm, with additional 2.30pm matinee shows on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are available at www.theatreroyal.org.uk.
All photos: Robert Day
Read more: Review: Blue Door, Ustinov Studio, Bath
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
