Noughts & Crosses: A Segregated Society by Elaha Moosa Gumley House School

I recently visited the Rose Theatre in Kingston to watch Sabrina Mahfouz’s adaptation of this captivating love story, shining a light on the ripple effects of racism in both society and relationships. The play was made especially unique to me through lighting and set. A mixture of red and white lights illuminated the stage, raising the tension and discomfort in the audience for the young protagonists in moments like the bombing. Moreover, the set included a versatile and incredible stack of cabinets where characters entered and left from- even fought around, physically, and emotionally. Scattered around the stage after the bombing were tables with built in LED lights, flicking between red and white to emphasise the effects of the event; the play was infused with small but symbolic choices that when noticed amplified the intimacy between the characters and the audience. 

Although faster paced than the book, the adaptation did a fantastic job at reminding us of the ongoing effects of socio-economic inequality through the constant bubbling of the plot and rapid turn of events. After leaving the theatre, classmates and teachers alike conversed on their interpretations of the message we were presented. Many remarks were made on the clever use of parallels between characters, the contrast between the booming sounds in times of tension and soft, melancholy music in times of gloom, alongside the silly jokes and moments of romance that pulled the story together and excited the audience. Overall, this was a wonderful play that made light of a very heavy and prevalent matter and is worth watching!