Following the success of The Mill and Home, Sweet Home, Freedom Studios have another hit show on their hands. Brief Encounters, a new play by Rav Sanghera, is a site-specific piece in Bradford Interchange that takes the form of a promenade performance. Sanghera’s incisve script is based on primary research in the Interchange itself, with verbatim recordings upon which he has cleverly based some five dialogues and scenarios with an ensemble cast of thirteen.
We begin in a slightly claustrophobic waiting room on the railway station platform where two old school friends are meeting in preparation for a school reunion. There is some rivalry between the two and as one of them has moved to Leeds a certain amount of animosity. However, as with all the scenes, this negativity is overcome and within minutes the two are shaking their booties to 80s cheese.
Just to add to the realism and authenticity the evening of the press night there is a lightning storm so we dash to the shelter of a parked First bus. Here are two bus company colleagues, Sharon and Mo, who have come to the end of their working relationships. Sharon’s idea that she should meet up with Mo for coffee is met with initial disdain. But once more, their mutual fear of hostility about their inter-racial relationship, not to mention the taboo of dating a workmate, is overcome and Sharon is thrilled at the idea of it.
Perhaps the part with the most pathos is given to Debbie as she cleans the ladies’ loos, another tight squeeze for the audience. Inside a locked cubicle we hear violent sobbing coming from inside and Sharon behaves with great empathy and, when the suicide case comes out, she is set free of her burdens, all from just a kind word. There is also a twist given in her attire but I won’t tell you quite what to avoid spoilers.
Next we meet up with Ayoub, a refugee who is lost in the city without a friend. At first Asian businessman Sam treats him like scum, a beggar, or worse, an illegal immigrant without papers, part of a fast-developing underclass. But given a short exchange he realises the futility of his bad manners and recognises the essential fraternity and universality of us all, doing what he can to help. It is important to note that none of these conflicts are thoroughly resolved, but we are left with a sense of hope and positivity.
Maggie is perhaps the most sympathetic character, sitting in the corner of the bus depot with a covered bird cage. Quite cleverly a Polish youth is brought on ‘stage’ and brings in the lady’s unseen sister. This leads to a beautiful finale with a backing choir reciting Elbow’s classic ‘Beautiful Day’ as we hear a trapped bird winging it out of the station to ‘freedom’.
So the piece brings up some complex questions and makes no attempt at easy answers to them. But the pride of Bradfordians, the unity, the hope and forward thinking in the city is celebrated in this gentle but much-needed heralding of unsubng heroes and heroines. It also encourages to look at our own experience of the Interchange, and perhaps reach out a helping hand here and there when the opportunity arises. And all against a backdrop that you couldn’t buy or even invent.
Reviewed by Rich Jevons on 6 October, Bradford Interchange Bus & Train Station, BD1 1TU, where is runs until 10 October.
Photos by Tim Smith.
http://www.freedomstudios.co.uk/projects/briefencountersbradfordinterchange/