REVIEW: My Name is Rachel Corrie at Old Red Lion Theatre 24 - 29 June 2024

‘very well acted, very timely, very important piece of theatre’ ★★★ ½

Rachel Corrie was a 24year old American peace activist, working to prevent Israeli forces from tearing down houses and workplaces in Rafah, Palestine, as a member of the International Solidarity Movement (I.S.M) when, despite wearing a high-viz jacket, standing on top of a mud bank, and waving her arms, the driver of an Israeli Army bull-dozer engaged in knocking down Palestinian houses ran her over and crushed her to death. Israel said it wasn’t anyone’s fault, the driver couldn’t see, and ignored international outcries.

Rachel’s diaries were dramatised by Alan Rickman and Katherine Viner, and their dramatisation My Name is Rachel Corrie was put on at the Playhouse Theatre in 2005. If ever a time was right for a revival of this piece it is now, when once again Rafah is a centre of destruction. A talented company is bringing Rachel’s words to life at the Old Red Lion Theatre, on till Saturday 29^th June.

Rachel is played by Sascha Shinder, impeccably charting her course from slightly ditsy Washington State hippy girl to courageous, committed peace activist.  Some of the stagecraft accompanying this transformation: the clearing up of piles of books, the removal of wall decoration, the decision to put on outdoor clothes rather than pyjamas, is clear in its intent but a bit fussy. There’s a lot of business, a lot of putting on and taking off high-viz jackets, a lot of painting banners with lots of dialogue between brush strokes. Rachel’s words are frequently spoken to a laptop, Zoom style, and there’s been clever stuff done to the computer so there are multiple faces and swirly lighting effects projected onto a screen behind the actor. It does make a wizzy visual accompaniment to the words, but it is distracting, and Sascha Shinder is a compelling actor – less busy stagecraft and greater focus on a very fine actor might suit the power of the piece better.



But that’s critical carping – this is a very well acted, very timely, very important theatre piece, this revival is to be praised, and it is a valuable, eye-opening, vital show. 

My Name is Rachel Corrie at Old Red Lion Theatre 24 - 29 June 2024

Box Office https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/my-name-is-rachel-corrie.html

Cast

Rachel Corrie: Sascha Shinder

Creative Team

Director: Sophia Rosen- Fouladi

Consultant Director: Susan Worsfold

Producer: Mischa Alexander

Lighting Designer / Technician: Miki Burnett