Duwayne
Venue: The Old Market 11a Upper Market Street, Brighton BN3 1AS
Extract from full review :http://www.fringereview.co.uk/fringeReview/5905.html
Gail Louw is fascinated by prejudice and racism. Her last play, 'Blonde Poison', examined the mindset of Stella Goldschlag, a 'greifer' - a Jewish woman who chose to betray fellow Jews to the Nazis. In 'Duwayne' she's looking at anti-Black prejudice in British society, and in its legal institutions - the Police Service in particular.
Everyone's heard of Stephen Lawrence - "Oh yes - the black teenager who was stabbed in South London years ago. Took the police a while to find the killers, but they eventually got a few convictions. They went to prison in the end".
The production is directed by Tony Milner, and his starkly minimal set had harsh blue and white light washing down onto a three-sided acting space edged by grey steel crowd-control barriers and yellow-black warning tape. There were car hub caps lying around, and a large block of concrete, and the overall impression was urban and – gritty.
Duwayne is the only witness to the crime, yet when the police come to take his statement they are insistent that the assault must have been 'provoked' in some way. Lawrence and Brooks are black, of course, so -"Was it a gang fight?" and - "Was it you that started it?".
Adrian Decosta must be about thirty, but this very talented actor passed convincingly as eighteen in the early scenes. In subsequent sections his voice became firmer and slower and his posture straightened, as his character grew older and more experienced. Duwayne just won't give it up and go away. He keeps demanding justice, and so he becomes an embarrassment and an irritant to the Metropolitan Police.
At one point he's thrown into a police cell, the two officers swinging the steel crowd barriers across the space to trap Duwayne inside. Very simple, very visual - and very effective. Andy de Marquez was the white policeman, bearded and gruff, while David Ajao played the shorter, smoother black officer.
When these two are together they wear their white uniform shirts, but Ajao also comes on as the representative of the Black Police Federation, in full uniform tunic and cap; a black officer reassuring Duwayne that there's no racist agenda in the investigation. Smooth and oily - "We're the Police, Mr Brooks. You can trust us"
Above all, though, it's Adrian Decosta 's anguished face that will remain in my memory. Duwane screaming at the policeman to please, please get his friend to hospital, eyes wide fear and panic. Then later, after questioning, Duwayne retreating into his duvet, grimacing with gut-wrenching emotional pain as he relived the terror of the attack - and also the worst horror of all; that he had abandoned his friend to his fate.
It's an important story, but it could have been told as a matter-of-fact recital of the events. Louw has done much more, though - she's taken a set of legal facts and turned them into an emotional drama that was gripping and very intense. I cared, we all cared, about Duwayne Brooks. We shared his pain and later we were uplifted by his victory. He became real for us - what better justification is there for theatre?
Reviewed by Strat Mastoris 28th May
Venue: The Old Market 11a Upper Market Street, Brighton BN3 1AS
Extract from full review :http://www.fringereview.co.uk/fringeReview/5905.html
Gail Louw is fascinated by prejudice and racism. Her last play, 'Blonde Poison', examined the mindset of Stella Goldschlag, a 'greifer' - a Jewish woman who chose to betray fellow Jews to the Nazis. In 'Duwayne' she's looking at anti-Black prejudice in British society, and in its legal institutions - the Police Service in particular.
Everyone's heard of Stephen Lawrence - "Oh yes - the black teenager who was stabbed in South London years ago. Took the police a while to find the killers, but they eventually got a few convictions. They went to prison in the end".
The production is directed by Tony Milner, and his starkly minimal set had harsh blue and white light washing down onto a three-sided acting space edged by grey steel crowd-control barriers and yellow-black warning tape. There were car hub caps lying around, and a large block of concrete, and the overall impression was urban and – gritty.
Duwayne is the only witness to the crime, yet when the police come to take his statement they are insistent that the assault must have been 'provoked' in some way. Lawrence and Brooks are black, of course, so -"Was it a gang fight?" and - "Was it you that started it?".
Adrian Decosta must be about thirty, but this very talented actor passed convincingly as eighteen in the early scenes. In subsequent sections his voice became firmer and slower and his posture straightened, as his character grew older and more experienced. Duwayne just won't give it up and go away. He keeps demanding justice, and so he becomes an embarrassment and an irritant to the Metropolitan Police.
At one point he's thrown into a police cell, the two officers swinging the steel crowd barriers across the space to trap Duwayne inside. Very simple, very visual - and very effective. Andy de Marquez was the white policeman, bearded and gruff, while David Ajao played the shorter, smoother black officer.
When these two are together they wear their white uniform shirts, but Ajao also comes on as the representative of the Black Police Federation, in full uniform tunic and cap; a black officer reassuring Duwayne that there's no racist agenda in the investigation. Smooth and oily - "We're the Police, Mr Brooks. You can trust us"
Above all, though, it's Adrian Decosta 's anguished face that will remain in my memory. Duwane screaming at the policeman to please, please get his friend to hospital, eyes wide fear and panic. Then later, after questioning, Duwayne retreating into his duvet, grimacing with gut-wrenching emotional pain as he relived the terror of the attack - and also the worst horror of all; that he had abandoned his friend to his fate.
It's an important story, but it could have been told as a matter-of-fact recital of the events. Louw has done much more, though - she's taken a set of legal facts and turned them into an emotional drama that was gripping and very intense. I cared, we all cared, about Duwayne Brooks. We shared his pain and later we were uplifted by his victory. He became real for us - what better justification is there for theatre?
Reviewed by Strat Mastoris 28th May
Brighton based playwright Gail Louw is the winner of the 2014 NWS/ Brighton Fringe Best New Play award for her true life drama Duwayne, which played at The Old Market, Hove.
Duwayne is based on the true story of Stephen Lawrence's friend Duwayne Brooks who was with Lawrence on the night he was murdered in a racist attack, and survived, but was subsequently treated as a criminal and subjected to shocking levels of institutional racism at the hands of the Met. He went on to become a Lib Dem Councillor.
The team of six judges chose Gail's play for its accomplished writing, for its original portrayal of fact as drama and for bravely hitting the zeitgeist.
The play was written with Brooks' support, both he and the playwright are hoping it will transfer to London.
Gail Louw has previously had Joe Ho Ho and Two Sisters produced at the Dome Studio,Killing Faith in Eastbourne and Blonde Poison which toured nationally to great acclaim winning an Argus Award for Artistic Excellence at the Brighton Festival in 2012.
Tristan Overton, a member of Brighton Theatre Royal Young Writers, was given a special 'Most Promising Playwright' award for Twenty to Something, a play that impressed the judges for its ambition, potential and for the impressive fledgling talent of the playwright.
The New Writing South / Brighton Fringe Best New Play award is given annually to a playwright, rather than the production as a whole, who has a play being premiered in the Brighton Fringe Festival.
Gail Louw and Tristan Overton will receive their awards at 10.45am on Wednesday 4 June at The Writers' Place.
This is the fourth year of the Best New Play Award, which is organised in conjunction with Brighton Fringe by New Writing South, the South East's preeminent creative writing organisation.
Last year's winner, Gather Ye Rosebuds by Silva Semerciyan, about the controversial issue of female circumcision, was immediately selected for a run at London's new writing powerhouse, Theatre 503.
New Writing South finds and develops writing talent. As a part of an integrated programme it cultivates new audiences for literature, theatre, poetry and new media.
The Brighton Magazine -Tuesday 03 June 2014
Two Brighton based playwrights will receive awards.
Gail Louw will receive the Brighton Fringe Best New Play award for her drama Duwayne, which played at The Old Market in Hove. The Brighton Fringe Best New Play award is given annually to a playwright who has a play being premiered in the Brighton Fringe Festival. Duwayne, which was chosen by the judges for its accomplished writing and portrayal of fact as drama, is based on the story of Stephen Lawrence’s friend Duwayne Brooks, who was with Lawrence on the night he was killed. Tristan Ovington, a member of Brighton Theatre Royal Young Writers, will be given a special Most Promising Playwright award for the play, Twenty to Something, which was praised by the judges for its ambition and potential. Gail and Tristan were receiving their wards today at The Writers’ Place in Jew Street. This is the fourth year of the Best New Play Award, organised in conjunction with Brighton Fringe by New Writing South. New Writing South finds and develops writing talent in Brighton and helps to cultivate new audiences for literature, theatre, poetry and new media. |
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http://www.lovefringe.com/events/duwayne/ 5/5
Excellent production. Perfect for 'Fringe'. The extremely emotive traumatic life of Duwayne Brooks following the racist murder of S Lawrence. The company of four play Duwayne, several police officers and Brian Paddick. Fast paced often shocking scenes highlighting the despair of Duwayne and the differing faces of the metropolitan police are wonderfully portrayed by an absolutely amazing cast. A must see! Toni M Posted on May 27, 2014 10:06 am |
http://www.lovefringe.com/events/duwayne/ 5/5
This piece should be seen by a nationwide audience. It indubitably has to be seen by a London one. Writer Gail Louw has pulled absolutely no punches in telling the story of Duwayne Brooks: the persecutions that he endured and his fight for justice in the face of almost unimaginable adversity, following the vicious and racist murder of his friend Stephen Lawrence on a south east London street in 1993. Superbly enacted by a committed and highly talented cast, Duwayne is a play that will live long in the memory of all who see it. Johnno Posted on May 28,2014 09:33 am |