Expendable
26 November 2024
Royal Court Theatre
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Expendable, running at the Royal Court Theatre until 21st December, is an intense story about inherent misogyny, difficult family dynamics, and the often overlooked voices of women.
In a small Northern town, a British-Pakistani family is being attacked viciously after their young adult son was falsely accused of being part of a ring of predatory men sexually exploiting young girls in the area. Mother Zara is hiding from everyone, trying to just let things blow over, while her children, Raheel and Sofia, are getting increasingly embroiled with the extremist views of close family members. When Zara’s sister Yasmin surprisingly visits from Manchester to help her family and figure out what is actually going on, things threaten to boil over.
The show holds its cards close to its chest and doesn’t immediately reveal much, slowly unfurling the story in bits and pieces through naturally flowing conversations and confrontations instead. It is delicately balanced, exploring the different sides and experiences of those embroiled with the scandal directly and tangentially. At times it is difficult to follow the narrative with many people mentioned but never seen, untangling their relationships and actions left to the audience, leading to some confusion early on that is only partially lifted as the plot unfolds. The emotional intensity of two women with very different views and lived experiences trying to communicate effectively with one another cuts deep, the distinct personalities of all characters on stage aiding in building relationships with the audience and deepening the impact of the topics explored.
A family torn apart by different factions, trying to mend bonds and understand opposing viewpoints, this play is strong and deeply touching, giving voice to women who are often overlooked, treated as expendable in a society ruled by men. It is a very important piece of theatre that opens many discussion points and asks many powerful questions. A difficult and emotionally troubling play, Expendable is compelling and captivating!
