one4review | On 11, Aug 2019

Phosphoros Theatre bring this crowd pleaser of a show to Edinburgh telling the story of 4 child refugees from Eritrea, Albania and Afghanistan – Tewodros Aregawe, Goitom Fesshaye, Emirjon Hoxhaj and Syed Haleem Najibi – and their treacherous journey to the UK. The set is a Pizza Shop where the 4 characters gently chide each other when taking pizza orders. Then, based on their actual experiences, they tell us of their flight from home as children, to their eventual arrival in the UK and the challenge of incarceration in the dreaded detention centres. The action is occasionally interrupted by calls from their families, returning their thoughts to those left behind. This is not all doom and gloom though and there is an amusing skit on what you need to know about living in the UK bringing some belly laughs as we recognise that what we say, do and wear must seem absurd to any new arrivals. The play ends by looking to the future with the refugees integrated into the UK society with qualifications, jobs and children who are dismissive of their father’s struggles. The acting is a bit uneven but the audience lapped up this show and roundly cheered the happy ending.

Reviewed by Rona

Summerhall

Until 11th August

5.40pm