Flash Festival 2017: A Matter Of Race by Zakiya Theatre Company at Hazelrigg House, Northampton

In this two-actor group and their play entitled A Matter of Race, Jessica Bichard and Karr Kennedy play two young girls who are in theirs and our eyes the same. Both find themselves travelling to England, one from Scotland, one from Africa, both finding themselves in the same interview, and both ending up at the same party. However, as each part of the story develops, we learn that life has its variants based on the colour of their skin.

Jessica Bichard

This is the first of a few message plays at this year's Flash and it tells its story with a lyrical and simple style, full of almost poetic prose and sometimes balletic movement. I also really liked the staging, with coloured rectangles gently delineating the two people.

Karr Kennedy

Jessica Bichard is once again superb, and ever since her brilliant turn as Juliet has been on my one to watch list. Her delivery and timing are crisp and clean (and she gets to use that perfect accent), and her work here forms a symbiotic connection with the equally impressive Karr Kennedy. This is a piece that has clearly been rehearsed within an inch of its life as the two actors move and speak as one and whip between each other's lines. It has a flow to it rarely bettered at Flash and one which tells well its story of the injustices of race, but without preaching. It almost allows you the viewer to almost notice the story it is telling rather that be told, which is the very best way to get such a message across.

A Matter of Race is effectively performed with style and delivers a message without being overpowering about it. I very much hope that their painted message very much becomes true.

Performance viewed: Monday 22nd May 2017

The Flash Festival 2017 runs between Monday 22nd and Saturday 27th May 2017 at three venues across the town. Tickets can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/flash-theatre-festival-2017-tickets-34315017140, with details at https://www.facebook.com/FlashFest2017

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