They Don’t Really Care About Us from 4AM Productions

By Alyssa Broderick

Written by Sab Muthari & Rachel Louise Clark

Directed by Sab Muthari, Rachel Louise Clark and George Fragakis

“A breathtaking piece of theatre that keeps you hooked till the end. A powerful and gripping story with a window into the terrors and injustice those around us still have to suffer”

The Liverpool Fringe Festival is a celebration of the wide array of artistic talent this amazing city has to offer. Over 20 shows have graced various stages across the last 2 weeks all of the highest quality and catching them all has been hard but one I did manage to see took my breath away and I can honestly say, one of the best bits of theatre I have ever seen! ‘They Don’t Really Care About Us’ by 4AM Productions was a unique story in its own right and one that I won’t forget for a long time for its powerful and pulsating story that will resonate with just about everyone. The company put the production on in May which sadly I could not make, so I was delighted to be able to catch a revamped version for the fringe festival at Hope Street Theatre. The themes of the show are really what makes this show what it is.

It’s a bold and brave production that is not afraid to push boundaries or ask difficult questions. Its central theme is that of racial discrimination but also delves deeply into other areas such as sexism in the workplace as well as a pseudo-love letter to the city of Liverpool.

The story is set in the mid-1990’s in Liverpool. Despite a minimal set, the production team did a brilliant job in setting the scene and transporting back to this time. The set or rather use of it was one of the highlights of the entire play but, more on that later! Power is something that can be seen and felt throughout the play.

The creators and cast want to deliver a message and they want to give it to us straight and they achieved that in spades. The show opened with an incredible opening sequence featuring the entire cast. The song of course is the famous song by Michael Jackson that shares its name with the title of this play. The song itself highlights racial tension and police brutality and it’s clear that Jackson’s incomparable legacy and artistry clearly inspired the creation of this play. The audience was left spellbound by the opening sequence and the tone of the play was masterfully set we were ready for something special.

The story focuses on Vanessa Campbell (Nina Price), an aspiring poet from Liverpool who has just hit the big time with her first poetry book. Her adoring parents Carol (Lisa Mogan) and Graham (Alan Kenny) could not be prouder, they are a typical working-class Liverpudlian family so seeing their daughter break the shackles and achieve success is a big deal for them. Vanessa’s success is highlighted by a book signing event to celebrate the release of her book. At the event, Vanessa is watched on by her two closest friends George Taylor (Paul Philip Ryan), and Dinesh Sharma (Sab Muthari). Also with them is Sarah Watson (Madeleine Lloyd Jones) who is the girlfriend of George but it would be a stretch to describe her as a friend of Vanessa (more on this later!!) As well as Caitlyn Campbell (Abi Tyrer) the younger sister of Vanessa. This group heads back to George and Sarah’s flat for a night to party where a shocking twist occurs and Vanessa is brutally slain. The question then is who did it? This is not just a simple whodunit, in fact it’s not even important who did it as what we see next was not only shocking but gripping to the core.

With it being set in the mid-1990s, the backdrop of racial tension is really on display. References to the Stephen Lawrence case as well as other incidents of racial ill-treatment by authorities show a great awareness and understanding by the writers that helps keep the message of the play at the front at all times. We see lovely subtle references to the 90’s throughout the piece through music, songs from the time are played throughout and for those in the audience who lived through those times, it was like stepping in a time machine. Props like CD players, Walkmans and of course a hilarious reference to Oasis helped us back to 1997. One song, “Where is My Mind?” By the Pixies is one of the songs we get to hear but it is this song that becomes the unofficial song of the production forming an important part of the events that unfold.

After Vanessa is killed, Dinesh is arrested and charged and for the rest of the play, we see his turmoil in prison whilst being assaulted and attacked by vicious prisoner Peter Dudley (Rich Dee). The racism and discrimination that Dinesh is subjected to is hard to watch and we are introduced to it early on. Whilst Dinesh is meeting his friends, he is stopped and searched by two officers looking into someone allegedly ‘matching his description’.

What was fascinating is that this early scene came straight after a hilarious scene featuring the entire Campbell family and one can’t help but feel this was a deliberate creative choice to cut off the laughs early and remind us why we were there and what we were in for. The racial incidences in the play are based on real life experiences suffered by Sab who plays Dinesh but also co-wrote and co-directed. When I learned this, it made me re-see the play in a whole new way. Dinesh’s only link to the outside world once arrested is his lawyer Sefor Amimbola (Leonisha Barley) who does her best to make sense of things and help Dinesh but she herself has to suffer the harsh reality of a society that looks down on those who are not middle class white men. As a young black woman in a legal world, the task of defending an alleged killer is fraught with jeopardy.

Her opponent in the court room is Edward ‘The Bastard’ Manson (Philip Halfpenny) who very much lives up to his name and snarlingly tries to get Sefor to make Dinesh please guilty for her own sake. The writing is so brilliant that we are also taken on smaller other journeys and subplots as if this was an episode of ‘Game of Thrones’. A police investigation is played out through DI Hannah Brindle (Hannah Kidman) and DCI Josh Miller (also played by Rich Dee). Hannah is a young officer trying to make her way in the force and is shadowing Miller who is a cutthroat man who clearly looks down to women and sees Hannah as beneath her and treats her as such. Miller is convinced Dinesh is a killer whereas Hannah is keen to see things differently and not afraid to challenge Miller but it is made clear to her that the force is a big boys club where she does not belong.

The second half of the play is almost played out like a dream. We see Vanessa appear as a ghost throughout. It was haunting and gave me chills each time as it was a deeply visceral image to see her in a white dress that was blood stained. We also saw different dream sequences where each suspect carries out the murder and honestly, I could not work out who it was, the suspense was on another level and the way each suspect had a spotlight on them to throw you off was masterfully done. I was in shock when the killer was eventually revealed and it was one the greatest reveals I have ever witnessed! The cast received a deserving standing ovation as this was a breathtakingly good bit of theatre and everyone involved should be so proud. There were so many strengths to the production, including this incredible cast.

That all delivered out of this world performances. A lot of the audience loved the performances by Lisa Mogan and Alan Kenny as the Campbells. Mogan as the caring and loving mother who has a quality we all relate to but a manner that only people from Liverpool can truly appreciate. She was hilarious in the first staff but it’s her performance as a mother grieving that was truly amazing and tear-jerking. The end scene as well where Carol and Dinesh meet for the first time since Vanessa’s death had everyone moved. Kenny playing Graham was understated and a typical dad and husband but importantly, was not overshadowed. His anger at losing his daughter and demand for justice was something every father could relate to. Hannah Kidman as Hannah Kidman gave a really moving performance as someone who is mistreated and talked down to throughout but we see a character grow and learn and stand up to the oppressors and put a stop to corrupt forces in the police force.

There were many layers to her performance but it was done with grace. Rich Dee was a stand out, having to play not one but TWO horrible people! There was a terror to his performance as racist prisoner Pete Dudley as he abused and tortured Dinesh throughout and pushed him to breaking point but also a scary arrogance to his performance of Josh Miller as a no-nonsense police officer who will do whatever it takes to get a result. Differentiating between two characters was done so well that you would genuinely believe two different men were on stage. Philip Halfpenny as smug and sleazy lawyer Edward Manson was so convincing as a greasy lawyer who will cut corners whenever he pleases. Be it squints of disapproval or tiny wry smiles of pleasure, Halfpenny was just someone who loved to be hated and hated he was! A part of me was hoping he would also be arrested but sadly, you cannot have everything.

Leonisha Barley was outstanding as a lawyer with the weight of the world on her shoulders, tremendously displaying the fear and concern she has for her client but also the fight required to take on the case. In a play full of darkness, we had some nice comic relief from George Taylor played by Paul Philip Ryan. Ryan played a Scouse lad we all know and love. Razor's sharp wit combined with a charisma that allows him to say even the most outrageous thing but get away with it. What was evident throughout the play was the incredible chemistry between cast members, Ryan, Price and Muthari all playing George, Vanessa and Dinesh and it was clear the three shared great rhythm with each other and it was believable these 3 had been friends for many years.

Ryan also has a brilliant ability to show a darker side to his character when he is faced with a moral dilemma in the second half of saving his own skin but also throwing shade on his best friend Dinesh. Madeleine Lloyd Jones who played jealous girlfriend Sarah Watson was perfectly cast. Her facial expressions of someone clearly irritated by Vanessa’s presence but also scared and vulnerable when under police questioning were fabulous. Again the subtle change in character to sinister was on display for everyone and Lloyd Jones effortlessly showcased a woman who had reached breaking point with all her insecurities about herself and her boyfriend being laid bare.

Abi Tyrer as the younger sister was also a great source of comic relief. Almost a reminder of who Vanessa was before she hit the big time and Caitlyn is often found pulling Vanessa back to her foots and not letting her forget who she is or where she came from. Tyrer was the perfect casting for this, she played the typical younger sibling to perfection. But there was far more than just comedy to this character. Caitlyn is someone who clearly struggles with her place in the world. Overshadowed by the famous sister and her parents clearly so proud of Vanessa makes Caitlyn’s complexities all the more fascinating. Tyrer handled it all with ease. Finally, the two leads need a special mention.

Whilst these were two superb individual performances, the chemistry between the two actors Sab Muthari and Nina Price was incredible. Amongst everything, we also saw a heartbreaking story of two people who share a bond and that bond is probably more than friendship. The tragedy being they never got to say how they felt about each other before it was too late. But it was perfectly nuanced with subtle looks to each other even when there were others on stage. Nina Price embodied everything Vanessa was and is through her gut wrenching poetry throughout the second half.

Her story also felt just as important to everyone and it was a brilliant touch that she was part of the second half but communicating to the audience. Sab Muthari was Dinesh was a performance filled with naturalism. From a young medical student, trying to live a normal life with neither parent around anymore and also battling his feelings for Vanessa. But once arrested, Muthari’s performance as Dinesh was sensational. Naturally displaying a man abused, tortured and victimised all because of the colour of his skin was hard to watch but equally engrossing.

This was one of the best productions I have ever seen in Liverpool. Kudos should be given to the writing team firstly, Rachel Louise Clark and Sab Muthari expertly told a story that had so many elements to it which is not easy to do. The 3 person directing team which was Louise Clark, Muthari and George Fragakis also ensured that the best was brought out of their incredible cast. The set itself was stripped to just some blocks on stage and this was an inspired choice. Removing everything around them, the focus was rightly on the story and its characters and proved that you don’t need an elaborate set to paint a picture. This entire team should be proud of putting on such a stunning piece of theatre.

It was a breathtaking piece of theatre that kept you hooked till the end. A powerful and gripping story with a window into the terrors and injustice those around us still have to suffer. There are no more shows of this production this year sadly but excitingly, 4AM productions will be embarking on a nationwide tour of the show next year so there is still a chance to catch it again! If you missed out this year, you don’t want to miss it again as it will be something you never forget. It will leave you angry at the injustices that still go on in the world as evidenced by the events in Liverpool and the rest of the country earlier this year. But also you will marvel at the world class performances of this talented team and a production company on the rise.