'The Bridge' review — a witty and heart-rending tale of family and political strife

Read our review of The Bridge, starring Alaa Shehada, now in performances at the Bush Theatre to 11 November.

Summary

• The Bridge comes to the Bush Theatre
• Alaa Shehada plays a Palestinian man trying to cross 'the bridge' in the West Bank
• It's a witty, heartfelt and thought-provoking play

Crossing a bridge might not sound like a big deal. But in this show, presented by the Palestine Comedy Club in association with the Bush Theatre, Palestinian actor and comedian Alaa Shehada shows how difficult it is traversing 'the bridge' in the heart of the Jordan Valley – the only option for Palestinians in the West Bank wanting to leave or return home.

Following his Scotsman Fringe First-winning debut, The Horse of Jenin, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Alaa offers a witty and heart-rending tale about family and connection juxtaposed with the bad decisions and broken promises of 20th-century British politicans. In this one-man show Shehada co-wrote with Sam Beale (who also directs) we learn what it means to be human and how to overcome insurmountable odds.

Each year, Shehada's mother sends a gift of a container of oil from his grandfather's olive trees in Jenin to her sister, who she hasn't seen in 19 years, in Amman. They're only two hours apart by road, but his mum can't go to Jordan and his aunt isn't allowed to travel to the West Bank. This year, just like every other, Shehada is branded "a hero" for delivering it personally.

Lugging the large yellow container that leaks and a bulging suitcase with things "that smell of the homeland", he makes the tedious journey with thousands of other Palestinians desperate to cross the bridge before the Israelis close it. The bridge is called Al Karameh (Dignity Bridge) by the Palestinians, the Jordans call it King Hussein Bridge, and it's known as Allenby Bridge (named after British General Edmund Allenby) by the British and Israelis. The bridge isn't an actual bridge anymore, but a crossing 180 metres long with three border checkpoints: the Palestinian authority, the Israeli occupation, and the Jordanian kingdom.

A lively Shehada is adept at playing characters he meets along the way, including a taxi driver known as The Bridge Expert (there's a hilarious scene where he mimes driving along bumpy mountain roads), a confused Haja (old woman), cigarette smuggler boss, terrifying border officials – and Eyeliner Girl, who he fancies.

British political quotes and phone calls from relatives demanding flip-flops and biscuits are interspersed throughout. Jazz Thompson and Jacob Butcher's beautiful illustrations and animations of olive groves and an imaginary Palestinian airport (there was one in Gaza, but it only lasted two years before it was destroyed) are projected on the back wall of a three-quarters thrust stage.

Shehada, a graduate of The Freedom Theatre Activity School in Jenin Refugee Camp, is a master at working the audience, but sometimes his brilliant punchlines are lost when delivered to the opposite side of the stage. He's not helped by Julius Pollux Rothlaender's sound design of music, air conditioning and crowds, which adds atmosphere but can be a distraction.

There's joy in this show that also makes us think about the ludicrousness of Shehada's expedition of 180 metres that takes over 12 hours because "some white man drew a line on a map". But there's hope, too, with the constant refrain: "We are one people, not two."

The Bridge is at the Bush Theatre to 11 November. Book The Bridge tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: The Bridge (Photos by Craig Fuller)