The Rolling Stone, Royal Exchange, Review

The Rolling Stone, Royal Exchange, Review

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Posted 2015-04-26 by David Keyworthfollow

Tue 21 Apr 2015 - Fri 01 May 2015

Lovers whose secret is in danger of exploding into public is hardly a new dramatic premise. However, the circumstances of Chris Urch's Bruntwood prize-winning play are far from traditional.


Dembe (Fiston Barek) and Sam (Robert Gilbert) are gay lovers whose flirations are blossoming into something deeper and more dangerous. In a Uganda where homosexuals are named and vilified on newspaper front pages, and even their families imprisoned, we know from the first playful, star-filled scene that their road ahead is going to be very rocky indeed.

The quick-fire dialogue is something which must have won over the Bruntwood Prize judges - the Royal Exchange's new writing award. It provides both laughs and tension as it propels the drama forwards.

Dembe's brother, Joe (Sule Rimi) is basking in the family pride of becoming a pastor. His rhetoric is at first bewitching and progressively more disturbing as it channels fear and prejudice against homosexuals.


Both Joe and Dembe are at war with themselves, torn, in different ways, between family loyalties are their own dreams.

Chris Urch is well served by all the actors. Faith Omole deserves special mention, as Joe and Dembe's sister, Wummie. Her gradual realisation that Dembe's lover is man, allows us to empathise with the predicament of someone for whom sibling loyalty conflicts with all she has been brought up to believe.


Performing The Rolling Stone on the Royal Exchange's main stage adds extra demands to the play, especially in its denouement. Arguably, it would have fitted better in the studio. However, the human drama at the play's heart makes it compelling. It's a great advert for the Bruntwood Prize and deserves to be seen on stages beyond where it is first being performed.

The Rolling Stone plays at West Yorkshire Playhouse, from 12th to 23rd May.


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!date 21/04/2015 -- 01/05/2015
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71071 - 2023-01-26 01:51:21

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