Plug-In: Identity Crisis

Ravestan Rating describes Phina Oruche's IDENTITY CRISIS as "funny, self-deprecating, and honest in her hindsight." Now in her hometown of Liverpool, her upcoming production promises a cathartic exploration of Liverpool's diverse media landscape through nine distinct characters. Each character grapples with their own struggles, showcasing the universal desire for love, recognition, and acceptance. As the spotlight shines on Oruche's performance against a minimalist backdrop, we are invited on a journey of self-expression.

Oruche crafts her characters with an acute understanding of the human quest for identity. Oruche highlights how people often project aspects of their identity to face the world, ultimately shedding light on the complexities we all encounter.

"This is nine people from all walks of life"  Phina goes on to describe an array of eccentric and larger than life characters and their struggles, from 62 year old media mogul Sir Bobby blue and his wife's "I call her Mary Middle-class" trouble in marriage to Rasta 24, mixed heritage man and "forever 16" Amy tan's struggle with self identity. While an audience is presented with so many characters with so many strong and striking personalities, for Oruche, one thing remains constant.

 "We all want love, recognition, and acceptance. That the universal theme, and all these characters are trying to go about it in different ways"  this is the driving force behind the piece as we see Oruche carefully navigate the nuances of race, class and so much more across the bare backdrop, all attention is on the performance as we are taken on a journey of self expression.

She notes, "There were all these different things I wanted to play with." This nuanced approach allows her to navigate the multifaceted dimensions of her characters, giving depth and authenticity to their struggles.

The choice of minimalist staging allows Oruche's characters to take centre stage. "Against the black background it's very minimalist and the characters are huge, and I think that juxtaposition is interesting," she shares. This deliberate contrast amplifies the impact of each character's presence, emphasising their significance in the narrative. Oruche, drawing from her own experiences, offers insights into how identity is portrayed in the media. "Black is not one thing, it shouldn't look one way, it shouldn't be experienced one way," she asserts. She reflects on how her own image has been manipulated and emphasises the importance of diverse and authentic representation.

Oruche's decision to forego explicit language speaks to her commitment to accessibility. She explains, "I want to make it as accessible to everybody because I think it's the 14, 15, 12-year-olds that have all this pressure..." By removing potential barriers, she ensures that the play resonates with a wide audience, particularly younger viewers navigating their own journeys of self-discovery. Oruche candidly shares how elements of her own life and background have influenced the narrative. She reveals, "I'm standing there representing myself, now that I'm a mother I'm also representing my child in a way." She also mentions as a born-again Christian, there is a deep responsibility to represent herself as a "teacher leader" as people look up to her and admire her. Oruche's hope with this piece is to educate youth on a new way of thinking.

"I want to make it as accessible to everybody because I think it's the 14 15 12 year old that have all this pressure from snap, from YouTube, from you know Instagram, all that how many followers how many likes how many this, who's looking at my hair, filter filter!"

With so much pressure on young people today, Phina hopes that with her work she can "blow up some of the myths of some of the places they want to head later in their lives"

She goes on to talk about her career and pull back the curtain on the effect that her industry can have on people "I've been in magazines, I've been in movies, I've been in television, I've been down catwalks and I know that doesn't fulfil you".

As she reflects on her modelling days, she recalls that, "As a model you don't have any say, you are the thing they create on top of." This insight offers a  glimpse into the challenges she faced within an industry that often sought to mold her into an image rather than celebrate her true essence "I'm a very proud card carrying Nigerian but I'm also a card carrying scouser"

Oruche then talks about how her niece passed away at the age of 19. It was during this time that she made the decision to pursue her Masters. She recounts, "My niece passed away when she was 19 in my home and that started a real dark depression, that's when I decided to go to university." This choice led her to a deeper understanding of the power of representation and the need for diverse narratives in the media.

Phina Oruche's IDENTITY CRISIS promises to be a transformative experience, delving into the universal struggles of identity with honesty and humour. Through her dynamic portrayal of diverse characters, Oruche invites us to reflect on our own journeys of self-discovery. As part of Black History Month, this production serves as a powerful testament to the richness and complexity of black experiences, challenging stereotypes and celebrating individuality. Don't miss this captivating performance at The Hope Street Theatre on October 8th.

Tickets can be found through the ticket quater website -

written by, Jordan Barkley