Don't Smoke In Bed

finboroughtheatre.co.uk

The Finborough Theatre is a fair distance from our flat and after mustering the courage to travel into the cold, I had no idea what to expect from its new offering and world premiere of, 'Don't Smoke In Bed'.

uktheatre.net

What awaited us, was a play that represented the very conversations my partner and I have found ourselves discussing. We, like the couple in the piece, are a interracial couple, not that that alone stands to define us or our relationship. What 'Don't Smoke In Bed' managed to do, was to very quickly draw us away from taboo arguments and instead ignite fresh debate both on and off the stage.

Whether it was Sheryl (Clare Latham) worrying about the wealth of black hair products she would never understand (which I 100% identify with), or Richard (Greg Lockett) exclaiming that he cannot control his Jamaican parents nor have to reason on their behalf, Don't Smoke In Bed's 2 hour duration was filled to the brim with a domestic conflict that overflowed into the intimate stalls seats.

finboroughtheatre.co.uk

I'll be first to admit that many of the issues that came up in the piece are things my partner and I have spoken about. Firstly, that society will always categorize mixed race individuals as black, that most will define themselves as black, even if parts of their heritage may not be. Secondly, that there is always going to be a slight clash of culture, regardless of how easy-going and adaptive each family is. They will both have different ways of doing things, different traditions and any relationship must be built on this knowledge and built to either include both traditions, or make new ones.

finboroughtheatre.co.uk

The piece grew in my estimations further in the second half, when writer, Aurin Squire challenges the 'white way of thinking'. Our female character Sheryl argues with her husband Richard about his parents and in her anger asks him what their problem is. 'Why did they not come and see their grandchild?'... 'would it hurt to pick up the phone' ... 'Why don't they like me, are they afraid that you married above your class?' - yeh she said it. It is rightfully crushing to hear him clarify to her that actually, his parents had higher hopes for who he would marry in the US and were in fact, afraid of him marrying down.

White supremacy has no place in this piece hurling a gust of glorious fresh air towards traditional white British theatre audiences.

finboroughtheatre.co.uk

It did have it's moments of cringe-worthy dialogue (& Jamaican accents), filled to the brim with word games and childhood rhymes where I failed to always understand the connotations but something had to ground this piece that constantly punched above our expectations. It throws weight at traditional two-handers. It challenges misconceptions and stereotypes around race and gender. It also asks whether our obsession with acceptance from a hungry, media-driven society is healthy and it asks us to leave all pre-judgements at the door or be faced with our own flaws. I won't say much about the plot, but if you like debate, conversation and a script that holds its own - then definitely make sure to book a ticket on its return!

Aurin Squire is a writer to keep your eye on!