Review - The Empress, Swan Theatre, Stratford
Tanika Gupta's new play, directed by Emma Rice, examines the relationship between Britain and India through two intertwined stories.
The first is the tale of Abdul Karim who in 1887, to the fury of the royal household, became Queen Victoria's servant and close friend. The second is the shameful saga of the ayahs, Indian nannies who cared for the children of British families and were often sacked by uncaring employers and left destitute in London.
A hundred years on, there is plenty of scope for post-imperial guilt and there are times in the first half when the Brit-bashing is laid on with a trowel.
But in a cruel and prejudiced world, the affection between the remarkably progressive Queen Victoria and Karim (Beatie Edney and Tony Jayawardena) shines like a beacon , while the steady elevation of Rani (Anneika Rose) from penniless ayah to respected political activist hints that even the wicked old Empire might do some good in the end.
In the final scenes Victoria dies and her funeral is an Anglo-Indian fusion of music and dance with the old hymn, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind accompanied by a sitar. It is a magical and extraordinarily moving moment.
The Empress is at the Swan until May 4
By Peter Rhodes
