THEATRE REVIEW: Can this Be Home

As parliament is stuck in the never-ending chaos that is Brexit, so to is everyone else. For many however, it’s not as simple as to turn off or turn away from the constant uncertainty. When it’s a set of human rights, a family and a home facing a question mark every day that Brexit draws nearer, one can only watch until answers are given. (Can this be) Home shines a direct spotlight on the treatment of immigrants living in the UK during the Brexit process. The pairing of spoken word by writer Kolbrun Bjort Sigfusdottir, and diverse set of songs by sound designer Tom Oakes while lovely to listen to, is rightly intrepid in reflection of the country’s behaviour to those who have made here their home.

With a small pile of sand & old cassette player taking centre stage, the piece is divided into sections of music, story-telling, & spoken word providing analysis of the country’s situation, and what it means for those living here. Sigfusdottir hailing from Iceland tells of her experience as an immigrant now being faced with the possibility of being removed from somewhere, she calls home to the place she comes from that is home in name only. Oakes then takes over to tell stories of the different people he has met and many places he has visited through his work as a musician and composer. He goes on to play tunes created and inspired from his travels, music ranging from Morocco to Ireland to Finland.

Oakes’ story-telling & music relays to the audience that although the topics being discussed in the performance are life-altering for many, his job in this process is to bring the lighter side. Tales of messy Moroccan food poisoning and seeing the Northern Lights for the first time followed by a song or two stir the play into a nice mixture of political and societal scrutiny with enjoyable music that tell stories of cultures coming together. That being said (Can this be) Home makes no bones about relaying the reality of what life has become for many immigrants living in the UK. Sigfusdottir’s words reach out to the audience. Most notably in the ending where her want for telling her story and being heard becomes undeniable as her passion brings the audience to applaud not only what she is saying, but to also congratulate the candid way in which she says it. Entertaining and thought-provoking, it is easy to see why (Can this be) Home is award-winning and should be given a platform big enough to get its message out there, and fast.