Once Upon a Time in Nazi-occupied Tunisia
Almeida Theatre, London
 

THE key question set by this intriguing new Josh Azouz play is just how close to the surface our prejudices lie – and how much it takes to bring them to the fore.

Azouz tries to supply some answers through the experiences of two young Tunisian couples, one Jewish (Loys and Victor) and one Arab (Faiza and Yussef), whose previously harmonious relationships are deeply unsettled by the invading Germans in 1942.

As rifts open up and the malign presence of the Nazis drives a wedge within and between them, Loys (Yasmin Paige) declares to Victor (Pierro Niel-Mee) that “the occupation has made us not ourselves,” while Victor, in gloomier frame of mind, asks: “What if it has revealed who we are?”

Picking away nastily at this conundrum is the provocative local Nazi commander (Adrian Edmondson), who tortures Victor in custody before taking an unhealthy interest in Loys. The dramatic moments that ensue leave us in little doubt that Azouz feels community solidarity is often only skin-deep, and that when push comes to shove, self-preservation and pre-ordained allegiances win through.

On a stage set of bare, irregular wooden boxes that ingeniously suggest the desert landscape in which events take place – especially during the striking Beckett-like opening scenes – the six-strong cast makes a strong impression, with Yasmin Paige outstanding as Loys and Adrian Edmondson expertly injecting some black humour as the sinisterly jovial Nazi officer.

At times, however, there’s so much going on and so much being said that it’s difficult to process all the information. This is especially true in the later stages of the play, when new developments are piled upon new developments, and Victor’s sudden conversion to zionism adds another layer of entanglement to the relationships.

That aside, Azouz has come up with an interesting creation. While its underlying message may be dispiriting, its overall effect is memorably stimulating.

Peter Mason

Runs until September 18: https://almeida.co.uk