There is no getting away from the fact that Stephen Laughton’s play, Run, is an intense 65 minutes of pure drama. Laughton has brought to the script some private experiences he wanted to share with an audience that were, as I looked around the Bunker space, totally engrossed.
He has found in Tom Ross-Williams, who plays Yonni, a beautiful and talented young Jewish actor whose star is most certainly on the rise. He takes hold of the role and goes for it. He moves around the stage with the grace of a gazelle; his body language is extraordinary.
This is a story about Jewish life, especially the Friday night meal dealing with an overbearing mother, sexual awakenings and anti-Semitism where as a youth Yonni can only handle violence with violence. His competent delivery of a very poetic script is a true masterclass in the commitment to memory.
This is wonderful storytelling and by using short, sharp bursts of sound and very haunting lighting we are taken on a journey as this Jewish boy deals with the situations he finds himself in.
Run as a play offers an awe-inspiring look into the soul. Explosive and very imaginative, the power of a well written and structured monologue makes for good theatre and Run is a perfect example of this type of play. Stunning and very moving.
****
Run runs until 1 April at The Bunker, 53a Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RU. For more information, visit inbloomentertainment.co.uk/run and follow the show on Facebook (RunThePlay) and Twitter (@run_theplay).
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