Sep 13, 20244 min read

Review: The Real Ones (Bush Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

On a miserable evening in September 2022, I found myself with no plans and asked for a suggestion of what show to see that night. I ended up following the advice of several people and heading to Bush Theatre for the first time to see Waleed Akhtar’s The P Word. To say that was the right choice would be an understatement as that phenomenal play ended up not only becoming one of my favourites of the year but winning an Olivier Award as well (which is more important, who can say?) The creative team behind that sensational show have now reunited to bring us another production at Bush Theatre –The Real Ones. With the bar set incredibly high following their last show, would this be able to repeat its success?

The world premiere production of The Real Ones is a love letter to platonic soulmates, focusing on best friends Zaid and Neelam as they navigate the challenges life faces at them, all the while hoping to keep their lifelong connection even when their lives start to change drastically. As the years go by and they start to move in different directions, will their friendship be able to endure?

As with his previous show, The P Word, Waleed Akhtar’s writing always feels refreshing in its approach – beautiful in its realism, full of wit and dialogue that pushes the plot forward with a naturalistic approach to discussing its slow-burning and ever-present themes. By sheer coincidence, The Real Ones shares similarities with the show I had reviewed the night before, Why Am I So Single? which also focuses on a platonic friendship, re-evaluating the way queer people are perceived in plays. Akhtar’s writing ensures this has plenty of depth to it, with multiple layers unravelling to reveal more about both Zaid and Neelam’s past and how it shapes who they are.

Both Zaid and Neelam’s romantic relationships are secondary to the main one of that of the platonic friendship between them both. Though both their partners can disappear at a moment’s notice, knowing their place in the background of the story, the dynamic between each of the three main pairings delivers a rich offering that ensures the play never feels dull through its one hour 45 minutes singular act. Akhtar’s use of underlying the narrative with recurring themes elevates the dialogue to give him more of an impact, with both lead characters having to hide elements of their partners and even themselves to their disapproving families. Be it sexuality or religion, the story weaves on the complexities as both characters battle their own desires with who their family perceive as the perfect partner to them. This comes at a cost though as they threaten to lose themselves in the course of it, and the resulting shift in Zaid and Neelam’s friendship feels earned rather than unnaturally inserted for the sake of pushing the story forward.

Having worked together on The P Word, Anthony Simpson-Pike is clearly intuitive of Waleed Akhtar’s writing and knows how best to make the words come to life. Through the intimate but versatile space of Bush Theatre, characters pace around a small circular pit, stepping outside when they are no longer the main focus. No bells or whistles are required here – just four fantastic actors making the most out of the marriage between Simpson-Pike’s direction and Akhtar’s writing. The result is something truly captivating.

Nathaniel Curtis and Mariam Haque lead the cast as Zaid and Neelam, and both are equally spell-binding in their portrayals. As Zaid, Curtis is great at exhibiting the bravado of the character that masks his own insecurities as he comes to terms with his identity and how this might be perceived. As this ebbs away as the play progresses, Curtis showcases a fantastic range with his performance in an emotional turn and one who endears himself to the audience effortlessly. Anthony Howell plays Zaid’s partner Jeremy in a fantastic contrast to Curtis’ performance and creating an interesting dynamic which never feels completely secure with problems bubbling under the surface – a factor that both Curtis and Howell portray beautifully.

Mariam Haque’s characterisation of Neelam had me gripped from start to finish, with a seemingly brash character trying to balance the needs of others while discovering what she wants to. Haque’s range in this character journey showcases her exceptional skills as a performer. Nnabiko Ejimofor plays Deji, Neelam’s partner, and happily stays in the background to let his partner take the spotlight, His own performance in the role is equally interesting, though it feels as if his character suffers by being slightly underwritten in contrast to Jeremy. This is a minor quibble though with the relationship between Neelam and Deji thrilling to watch and one you are rooting for throughout.

As mentioned earlier, the romantic relationships play second fiddle to the main relationship in the story – the one between Zaid and Neelam. Watching their friendship blossom on stage was a complete joy – even when their lives moved in different directions, every time the two came back together, the story was elevated. This can be attributed both to the writing and the believable chemistry Nathan Curtis and Mariam Haque have together. As events drew to a close and changes in their relationship occurred, I started to think about a former friendship of mine and the similarities in the situations. It is this effortless relatability that makes Akhtar’s writing so special to witness and ensured The Real Ones is another resounding success.

Though admittedly not quite perfect, there is something profoundly human and, well, real about The Real Ones. The refreshing and realistic use of dialogue tells a relatable story and one that is full of depth that easily resonates with its adoring audience. Bush Theatre keep proving themselves time and time again to be one of the more consistent and reliable spaces in London when it comes to the quality of their always exciting programming. Their rave reviews and multiple awards over the years are a testament to this, and The Real Ones is no exception, making it the latest in a long list of fantastic shows to make its debut there. I hope to see a future for this refreshingly real show and to see what’s next for its exciting writer.