Testing the Echo

Director – Matthew Dunster 

Designer – Paul Willis 

Lighting Designer – Philip Gladwell 

Sound Designer – Ian Dickinson 

Commissioned and Produced by Out of Joint 

A cast of eight includes Kirsty Bushell, who was nominated for a 2007 TMA award for Angels in America; Teresa Banham whose career includes several appearances with the RSC; Robert Gwilym (for several years Dr Max Gallagher in Casualty); Farzana Dua Elahe (recently in Channel 4’s Britz); Sushil Chudasama; Ian Dunn; Syrus Lowe and Sirine Saba. Written with charm, wit and passion, David Edgar’s play is about people preparing to become British Citizens. Tetyana studies in secret to escape her marriage, while Mahmood, kidnapped for his own good, has only his abductor to help him with revision practice. Meanwhile, the motley crew in Emma’s English class are all looking for something, whether it’s a passport – or a fight. As the day of their ceremony approaches, Emma’s students begin to challenge some of her dearest-held beliefs. By looking at the way we assess those who want to be British, Testing the Echo takes an illuminating and often very funny look at how we define ourselves as a nation. The play’s fictional story strands were inspired and informed by a detailed research workshop. 

★★★★ The Financial Times