Review: CUTTIN' IT, Crucible Studio, Sheffield, 20 July 2016

"We are opposites, even though we came from the same, she's nothin' like me"

Charlene James's Cuttin' It - winner of the Alfred Fagon award for Best New Play at the National Theatre, the Radio 4 award for best single drama, and the George Devine award - is an unflinching portrayal of the impact of FGM (female genital mutilation) within the Somali community living in the UK.

If that sounds heavy-going, don't worry. James's writing is full of humour and character and the depiction of the acts involved is not too graphic, communicated through reported storytelling rather than visuals. It's very accessible to adults and teenagers alike, without compromising its message.

The story is framed by two 15-year-old narrators: Muna (Adelayo Adedayo), whose family moved to the UK from Somalia when she was three, and Iqra (Tsion Habte), whose family has only just escaped. The two girls are in the same year at school, but their experiences of life are worlds apart. Muna wonders if she is the luckier of the two, having only known life in the UK, whilst Iqra has seen the devastation of war and the brutal murder of members of her family. Yet, as the play progresses, it's clear that both girls have experienced suffering and have responded to that in very different ways.

The central storyline focuses on Muna's fears for her younger sister, who was about to turn seven. Muna remembers being that age and having to suffer the pain of FGM - she is desperately trying to protect her sister from suffering the same fate. Iqra, too, remembers experiencing this pain, but perceives the process as an essential part of their culture, something Muna cannot accept.

We discover, along with Muna, that the practice has not been left behind in Somalia, but occurs behind closed doors in this country. Cuttin' It offers us a sobering reminder (without being too preachy) that, even in the UK and other Western countries, women and girls are still in danger. Many members of the audience were moved to tears.

This one-act play utilises a stark set -a tier of concrete steps, with a huge gash in the middle to represent cuts and divides, as well as to echo the stark urban environment in which the girls live. Both characters narrate the events of the play throughout, each effectively delivering overlapping monologues to the audience.

They are both very well written and beautifully performed. Adelayo Adedayo brings enormous energy to Muna, whose comedic and breezy persona belies a core of passion and pain. As the quieter, more well-spoken, dutiful Iqra, Tsion Habte offers a nuanced portrayal of a young woman who has always believed everything she has been told, yet lives with deep scars from the suffering she has experienced. It's a very assured performance from somebody making their professional debut in a challenging role. Both talented young actors really bring the characters to life, under the direction of Gbolahan Obisesan, who keeps the piece incredibly well paced.

This is an accessible and important play, and a fantastic showcase for a writer and two performers who have a promising future in the theatre.

Cuttin' It (a Young Vic/Royal Court production in conjunction with Sheffield Theatres, Birmingham Rep and The Yard) is at the Studio Theatre, Sheffield until July 23 and at The Yard Theatre in London from 26-30 July. Details here: http://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/cuttin-it

Photo of Tsion Habte and Adelayo Adedayo by David Sandison