Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme winner Dipo Baruwa-Etti’’s supernatural thriller, ‘An Unfinished Man’, is an unflinching look at the mental health struggles of a young black man in East London, set against the backdrop of rising austerity, superstitions, and witchcraft.
“The witches and wizards of Lagos chant loudly in East London.” Kayode (Simbo) has been unemployed for seven years, we are told through a narration that opens the play. His marriage is strained and his wife, Kikiope (Bobb-Baxter), is exhausted dealing with the complexities of his mental health issues, turning to faith and spiritual warfare as a solution.
Bolstered by a strong supporting cast, Simon’s sensitive portrayal of a man robbed of his potential by an illness he can’t bear to name, must be applauded. Throughout the production, we see him wading around on stage in a circular pool of water, perhaps symbolising a baptism pool. It is here we reach the crescendo of the show: a seemingly successful exorcism is performed by his mother (Vandi) and local Pastor Matanmi (Springer) as we see him, quite literally, battle with his inner demon, Itan (Jones), who proclaims “I am history”. There are points in the play where the dialogue between Kayode and Itan is only understood by them, as they speak to each other in a fictional language called Shukabhembemese. Though this could garner some puzzled looks, audiences can derive some meaning from the conversation through non-verbal cues, assisted with the dim lighting and the heightened music to understand that these two characters are in constant conflict.
The production forces the audience into serious introspection, questioning how we navigate mental health struggles and whether one should turn to eastern customs or western approaches for relief, whilst also subtly presenting several themes exploring masculinity and structural racism. Humorous in parts, designed to balance the heavy subject matter, Taio Lawton’s directorial command of this story is an utterly rich and compelling account of the experiences of depression, and deserves every standing ovation it receives.
Name of Production | An Unfinished Man
Year of Production | 2022
Venue | Yard Theatre
Cast | Fode Simbo, Teri Ann Bob-Baxter, Lucy Vandi, Selina Jones, Mark Springer
Writer | Dipo Baruwa-Etti
Director | Taio Lawson
Designer | Rosie Elnile
Lighting Designer | Ciaran Cunningham
Sound Designer | George Dennis
Movement Director | Robia Milliner
Costume Supervisor | Rianna Azoro
Assistant Director | Garen Abel Unokan
Fight Director | Yarit Dor
Producer/Production Company | Yard Theatre
| Check out more from Yard Theatre | Find out more about Dipo Baruwa-Etti|
| See more Off/Stage Review Bytes on IG |