Teenagers Kash (Kashif Ghole) and Mohsen (Ibraheem Hussain), like many South Asian teenagers, can’t swim. Up until now, this has not been a problem. But, with the biggest social event of their teenage lives, Jess’s 18th birthday pool party only a month away, there is only one thing for the boys to do – learn.
Brown Boys Swim is set in the canals and leisure centres of Oxford, represented by a simple set which the actors physically transform throughout the production. This is extremely effective and is coupled with slick transitions by movement director Sita Thomas. With nothing more than a moveable platform and two benches, we are transported to endless locations including the gym and the shopping centre, which ensures the production remains fast-paced, energetic, and engaging.
The play deftly handles the young Muslim experience, and touches on many aspects such as racism and prejudice with tenderness and care. Two South Asian teens in a majority white city will always be made to stand out, and as the boys discover, trying to wade against the tide is no easy feat. It was enlightening to hear Kash and Mohsen confide in each other about their experiences, and I felt truly invested in both boys futures. This is testament to the excellent writing by Khan.
However, I’m not sure how well Brown Boys Swim delivers its final act, which felt disjointed and unclear in comparison to the rest of the piece. The twist delivered at the end, without giving away any spoilers, was vague and quite hard to swallow. Whilst making emotive sense, I didn’t necessarily agree that it was the right direction for the ending, and I do think it could have been portrayed better. This meant that in the closing moments of the show, where Mohsen engages in Bhangra dance in a defiant manner, I didn’t feel moved emotionally, which was a shame.
Brown Boys Swim is an important story and is a refreshing and necessary production for today. It is a great piece of theatre and one that, despite minor flaws, I would recommend.
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