Thirty years after its premiere, Ayub Khan Din’s East is East plays at the Citizen’s Theatre in Glasgow as part of its anniversary tour, directed by Kash Arshad. Although a lot has changed since the play’s conception in the 90s, its themes of identity, family loyalty, and racial prejudice are just as prevalent today.
The story follows the Khan family, who are living in Salford in 1971. It presents the struggles faced by George, a Pakistani man with traditional values, and his English wife Ella, as they try to raise their many offspring in a multicultural household.
The couple have seven children, but only six are featured in the play, the reason for which becomes clear as the story unfolds. Of those still living at home, each has their own distinct personality, and therefore faces their own distinct obstacles. As these obstacles become harder to overcome, tensions rise and the children are forced to face up to the pressure being placed on them by their father.
East is East is a real ensemble piece. The actors complement each other beautifully, and there is no clear protagonist as this is the story of a family in which each member is as important as the other.
Samantha Power brings a fierce northern charm to her role as Ella, and she has an easy and believable rapport with best friend ‘Auntie’ Annie, played by Victoria Brazier. The two have a strong sense of comedic timing, but Power is not afraid to be vulnerable, and executes moments of anger, upset, and despair with equal aplomb.
In the first half, Bhasker Patel as George could do with finding some more stillness to improve his physical presence, and we only really see him portraying one emotional state. However, as we move into the second half, he demonstrates an intriguing mix of softer and more aggressive emotions, and we begin to understand the character’s complexity.
Rohan Macleod as youngest son Sajit has no problems with finding his character’s physicality. His performance is embodied, and despite often having little to say other than “get stuffed”, his portrayal is compelling. His relationship with his eldest brother Abdul, played by Danyal Ismail, is touching, and the pair demonstrate a well-rounded nuance.
The piece is supported wonderfully by its technical components. Rachana Jadhav’s set and costume design is flawless, placing us firmly in the 70s, and ease of transition has also been taken into account. Jane Lalljee’s lighting design similarly complements the narrative, highlighting key moments and helping to separate locations.
One of the real strong points of East is East is that it doesn’t rush to leave all the knots tied in pretty bows at its conclusion. The message is clear, but the audience is still left wondering what will happen next, as these characters feel like real people with complex pasts and uncertain futures. The play manages to be wonderfully funny without compromising on truth, and the story remains engaging from start to finish.
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