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Two Billion Beats
Orange Tree Theatre
WHEN the only two items in the programme are biographies of BR Ambedkar and Sylvia Pankhurst, you know you are in for a production packed with revolutionary fervour and Two Billion Beats delivers in compassionate, understated fashion.
Asha (Safiyya Ingar) and her younger sister, Bettina (Anoushka Chadha), are polar opposites. While the fiery sixth former Asha is fuelled by ideas and dreaming of studying at SOAS, her sibling is the embodiment of adolescent vulnerability and saving up her lunch money to buy a hamster.
They struggle to connect as the single-minded Asha would rather keep her nose tucked inside the works of Arundhati Roy than placate the needy overtures of her admiring little sister.
Writing her latest essay, Asha has immersed herself in the struggle for Indian liberation and the life of Ambedkar, including his many battles with Gandhi. Ingar brings their 1936 “boxing match” over the issue of caste to life, springing around the stage with jabs and uppercuts abounding.
In conclusion, Asha ends up “throwing shade” on Gandhi, much to her mother’s displeasure. It’s a moment that goes right to the essence of the play – what does it mean to be radical? Who is allowed to be radical and what does radicalisation really mean in a world overflowing with injustice?
Asha and her sister are just discovering the answers to those questions as they battle through their teenage years. When they both have to stand up to bullies their reactions put their ideals to the test, particularly in the case of Asha, who gives some questionable advice to her younger charge.
Both characters are full of imperfections and mistakes, reflecting the flux of teenage hood and its many contradictions. Both of Bhattacharyya’s creations feel so human – fun and frustrating in equal measure – in part due to two spot-on performances from Ingar and Chada.
You leave the auditorium feeling as though you’ve got two new people in your life.
While there are moments when the pace dips and recorded voiceovers don’t quite land, ultimately there is something deeply life-affirming about their quest for identity.
Runs until March 5. Box office: https://orangetreetheatre.co.uk
