Sardark ★★★★

Sardark is just between London Bridge and Waterloo on the jubilee line. Tomato-loving Italian Elena and South American journalist Emily find a mutual misunderstanding of British culture. As their unlikely friendship grows, they discuss the big issues; politics, history, generational guilt, football chants and whether or not a jaffa cake is a biscuit or a cake.

This piece by The Bold Jingles, takes the audience into a conversation we would not usually be privy to, a conversation between two young women, on the precipice of belonging, with their fates in the hands of the civil service and their own personal knowledge of British monarchs and centuries-old legislation.

There is an abundance of biting wit in the carefree, promiscuous tomato-grower Elena (Carola Colombo). ‘I am really funny in my own language, and smart’, as her refreshing honesty causes the self-aware obnoxious Emily to realise her privilege. Emily (Analiese E. Guettinger) is a lost soul, and Guettinger effortlessly balances on the line of sweet Southern Belle and entitled-genZ American. The writing is a clever and beautifully-written political satire, assessing the state of the country and where we belong. Is it the country you are born in, where you live or is it where you are considered a citizen? With strong actors and good writing, the only criticism lies in the simplicity of the set and world that is built. The Voice Over of an overworked and undersexed civil servant is a clever choice for overcoming this hurdle. The only wish is that Sardark was not limited to the confines of a fringe studio space, as the two-chair set up takes you out of the clinical government office waiting room environment, despite the actors best attempt at bringing them there, the audience imagination can only go so far.

Both actors are highly skilled in their ability to bring these strangers to life. There is something therapeutic and relaxing about divulging all your secrets and doubts to a stranger, knowing you will never see them again, giving a certain freedom to be more honest with them and yourself. The actors do a great job of providing this sigh of relief as they can finally discuss for the first time their hesitations on wanting to be British and their fear of losing who they are.