Possessions by Sasha Hills - ★★★★☆
Built on the interconnecting stories of four women, Possessions is a play that explores the consequences of unanswered questions, with a focus on the role our history plays in it all. Sasha Hails details the history of the colonisation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by Belgium, mirroring its history with the modern day slavery in the cobalt mines.
The production tells four different stories centred around these women and their journey to living again. Alice Harris is the wife of a missionary, she has to leave her young children to do the Lord’s work. Upon their arrival in the DRC her husband, John Harris reveals that they have been duped and the situation in Congo is far worse than imagined. Alice Young, a journalist who found fame through her column reporting on motherhood and has now committed to reporting on the violence in DRC.
Hope Victoria Kasambayi Mabele, was born in Victoria station to Kasambayi Mabele, after fleeing from the DRC due to the conflict. Kasambayi named her daughter Hope; Hope for their new life, their future and all she will become. To ensure this, Kasambayi wipes away her memory of the past, for Hope, this is a problem. She is intelligent and desires to know more about her history, her past and where she comes from. To find out she decides to go on a quest that ends up costing her everything.
The transitions between scenes, through time and reality was tactically played out. With each scene proceeding with many quick shifts, the audience is required to stay focused. This happens with ease due to the exceptional performance of all cast members. The issues covered throughout the play include; abuse of colonial power, rape, violence against women, generational trauma and much more.
Though the various stories connected and played a role, at times they dragged and seemed irrelevant. For example, the graphic relationship between John Dent and Alice Young could have been left to the audience's imagination. The context of Alice Harris and John Harris should have been more succinct as the dialogue leading up to the travel to Kinshasa was overly drawn out. Additionally, the single mum trope of Hope dropping out of school seemed stereotypical, with men seeming to be the reason for her demise.
Nevertheless, the optimism displayed by the productive team is admirable. The stage was greatly used, the actors were bold and captivating, with various moments of the show standing out. The five cast ensemble brought life into a traumatic story and moved the audience to a point of reflection.
You can catch Possessions at Arcola Theatre till 15th July.
