Bereavement unlocks a host of buried conflicts for a British Ethiopian family in Beru Tessema’s richly textured debut play. An actor as well as a screenwriter, he knows how to write cracking dialogue, and his script has the tang of both domestic and urban authenticity: the Bush currently feels like the only theatre trying to reflect the language of the modern capital.
A pacy, 110-minute production by Bush boss Lynette Linton draws fine performances from stage veterans and newcomers alike. Though the story seems at first unremarkable, it delves deep into loss, guilt and the issues involved when you’re raised between two cultures. Tessema also knows how to spring a surprise.
