Review by: Paul Towers, 14 April 2016
Wipers by Ishy Din
A Curve, Belgrade Theatre and Watford Palace
co-production
Curve 8 – 23rd April 2016
“worthy, entertaining and well written”
Wipers, so named after the English mispronunciation of the
French town of Ypres, is the story of four disparate World War One soldiers end
up sheltering in a ramshackle French barn while a lone soldier, Khudadad Khan,
holds off the advancing enemy troops.
The play, beautifully set in a versatile evocation of a
rural barn, begins with Simon Rivers’ Sadiq, a career soldier who, having lost
his family, embraces military life and finds a security in the rigid discipline
of the British Army. Next to arrive is Sartaj Garewal’s AD, a private under
Sadiq but unable to speak English or
write. This allows a few much needed comic moments when his words are
misinterpreted. Next is Jassa Ahluwalia as the over-educated Captain, Thomas.
Fresh out of Officer training with little idea of how to handle either men or
combat, he turns out to be the pupil to the two more experienced soldiers.
Finally Waleed Akhtar as Ayub, a 19 year old boy soldier, arrives yet more cannon
fodder in the futile war.
Trapped in the wrecked barn awaiting either salvation or
damnation the four men jockey for social position and each learn many things
about themselves.
Sadiq opines that, as long as they can hear gun fire that
means that Khudadad has continued to protect them.
Khudadad was a real person and the first non-British person
to receive a Victoria Cross. His contribution to the success of the allies
winning the war is shamefully overlooked.
This play reminds me very much of the old days of BBC’s Play
For Today, very worthy, entertaining and well written. Not only does it
highlight the much neglected part that South Asian troops played in winning The
Great War but it also underlines the continuing mistakes that withdrawing colonialism
and deposing dictators without adequate replacements cause.
Wipers is on at Curve until Saturday 23rd April
First published on Western Gazette
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