Credible Witness

Written by Timberlake Wertenbaker
Director: Sacha Wares
Starring: Anthony Barclay, Olympia Dukakis and Vincent Ebrahim
Story: A young man flees to a distant land and vanishes. His mother follows, certain she will find him, but in this unfamiliar place all certainties seem to crumble. In this story of love and loss, Wertenbaker explores passions simmering in contemporary Britain: the longing for identity, the despair of fragmentation and the fragile hopes of lives redefined.

A round up of the press notices by Darren Dalglish

The play has received a mixed response from the popular press.... NICOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, УCredible Witness, even though as topical as today's newspapers, has little that is fresh, illuminating or provocative to say about refugees and human rightsЕЕ.It's the performance of the remarkable American actress Olympia Dukakis, which gives the play its sad comedy and pathos.Ф THE SUNDAY TIMES says, УThis is a sad disappointmentФ, and goes on to say the Уtext relates to the play rather as a plan relates to a house: it is clear, but it contains no lifeФ. ALASTAIR MACAULAY for THE FINANCIAL TIMES liked the play, describing it as, УThe most moving - the most compassionate - new play for many months.Ф JONATHAN MYERSON for THE INDEPENDENT says itТs Уa play let down by too many speechesФ and goes on to say, Уit's a muted chamber opera on the themes of memory and historyФ. KATE KELLAWAY for THE OBSERVER says, УOlympia Dukakis gives a stupendous performance..Ф and goes on to say, УThe play has the balance it needs to contain its different elements, its refugees and their historiesЕФ CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, УWertenbaker's latest is loud on the symbols but fails to play on the heartstrings.ФHe goes on to say, УOnce again, Wertenbaker looks like a dramatist more interested in big themes than great scenes.Ф JANE EDWARDES for TIME OUT says,"Sacha Wares production, in spite of eloquent performances, can't always cover the play's own credibility gaps in its search for a 'Credible Witness'. "