Gareth's Culture and Travel Blog

This is a true story adapted by Phil Porter from Hamed & Hessam Amiri’s memoir of their journey as refugees from Afghanistan to Wales and their lives upon and since arrival. It has transferred from the Wales Millennium Centre to the National’s Dorfman Theatre.

The sparks that lead to their decision to leave are mother Fariba’s campaign for women’s rights, as a result of which the Taliban target her, and eldest son Hussain’s need for treatment for his heart condition. Their journey is as tortuous as we have come to expect, exploited by handlers, targets for thieves, spending long periods of time in confined spaces in cars, lorries and containers. We’ve heard similar tales many times and this one is told in a style that may have been intended as accessible to children, but felt a bit patronising to me. The second half was a much more personal story and as a result captivated more, as the family establishes itself and goes about getting treatment for Hussain.

I liked a lot of director Amit Sharma’s inventiveness, particularly when actors changed characters, and the use of movement and physical theatre, but I found the continual use of surtitles in English, even when English was spoken, distracting. The five actors, who play all roles as well as the family members, are all excellent. The second half really won me over, a deeply moving story of resilience and familial love which also showed the welcome the real people of Britain are capable of, despite their leaders.

Lovely to see this heart-warming true story make it onto one of the National’s stages.