" 'Mlima’s Tale' is a devastating yet moving exploration into the ivory trade. A powerful drama beautifully played by a talented group of actors who bring Nottage’s script to life with such passion and tenacity, this is an urgent watch not to be missed."
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"For all the bloodletting at its core, the writing has its own incantatory beauty, so much so that Mlima’s final command to “run!” finds the audience more than ever rooted to its seats."
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"Visually arresting and a testament to how powerful a statement can be made with such a minimalist approach, this new production is a welcome addition to both Nottage’s and Cromwell’s esteemed portfolios."
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“Evil has its farcical side and Nottage fully displays this in darkly satirical dialogue while Mlima observes from the shadows...Of the cast of four who play the human characters, Natey Jones in particular excels, going from genuine grief as a bereft park warden to sleazy criminality. A thundering triumph.”
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“In an era where puppets dominate depictions of animals in theatre, ‘Mlima’s Tale’ raises the question of humanisation as it raises Mlima to the equal of every other human on the stage. For that alone, it leaves us with much to think about.”
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“The play’s structure, with the big dramatic event (necessarily) happening upfront, creates impatience for justice or accountability – but neither arrives, underscoring reality...Nonetheless, this is a deeply moving production that imaginatively explores the commodification of nature, lending a meaningful voice to one of the many victims of the ivory trade.”
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Mandela Siobhan [Mlima] brings a sinuous physicality to the role and it is wrenchingly compelling to watch a man with no hint of an animal costume portray a magnificent creature in its death throes...There are occasional outbursts of overripe acting, but nothing can detract from the impact of magnificent Mlima’s supremely sad story.
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“ ‘Mlima’s Tale’ unfolds with the directness and simplicity of a child’s bedtime story. Yet it is the grimmest of Grimm tales...the entire production perfectly serves a narrative that ends up making you furious as well as sad, an unbearable play for today that is unfortunately only too real to be a fairy tale.”
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