Writer Azma Dar is the mastermind behind this tantalising but ultimately dense biodrama – the tale of the British South Asian Muslim war hero, lost to time, but never so relevant.

Several years in the making, Kali Theatre (known for its championing of women and non-binary writers of South Asian descent) showcases Noor, reviving the incredible but little-known story of the first female undercover wireless operator from Britain working in occupied France during WWII, portrayed by Annice Boparai. Mixing a blend of themes that is obvious from the outset, including loyalty to one’s country and set of beliefs, to more subtle ideas of spirituality, this punchy fast-paced thriller packs in a lot in such a short run time, almost feeling bloated; its attempt to cover big themes like skin colour, prejudice, sacrifice and the status of women in the Air Force, comes across thin and a little reductive. 

Nevertheless, many elements do come together to make this production an intimate affair, particularly the inspired traverse stage design by Helen Coyston, which operates as a small runway, and used as a train carriage, an apartment building and a café, with Noor’s secret communications to London cleverly rendered as flickering lights transmitting through the stage floor. Sound design by Dinah Mullen blends an eclectic mix of swing and melodic Sufi inspired music, as well as a snippet from Grammy award-winning artist Arooj Aftab.

At times, the narrative structure becomes difficult to follow, with the story too often jumping back and forth in different time periods, but the standout performance from Boparai ensures the audience is anchored to her beguiling character – a scene with her captor (Porter) towards the end of the play is particularly strong and marks a shift in Noor’s character, where once she was timid and shy but is now a confident and brave woman who is defiant in her pacifist beliefs and courageous till the very end. The constant beam of light (her namesake) focused on her throughout this scene before her execution, reminds us that this, regardless of the history she is surrounded by, is her unapologetic story.

The real Noor Inayat Khan was a fearless resistance fighter, who sacrificed her life for her loyalty and beliefs, being posthumously awarded the George Cross in 1949. Though regrettably, this production doesn’t quite seem to hit the mark and feels a little underwhelming, the history and reality far outweighing the artistic attempt at portraying her, probably because its approach was too similar to other artistic attempts, which have always been through the historical fact first – but there’s so much more to her than that, and it would’ve been interesting to see a different take on her life.

Check out more from Southwark Playhouse | Find out more about Poonam Brah | Azma Dar |
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