Borders הגדר ألسياج

The Vault Festival is once again upon us where the spectacular network of Vaults tunnels hosts a series of weird, wacky and wonderful small plays, showcasing incredible new talent. Borders is one of these. Despite the name, it doesn’t feel like this play is really pushing as many boundaries as with the more typical Vaults experience, an altogether more down-to-earth, more “normal” production than one might expect there. Nonetheless it is an interesting piece with a good story to tell.

Borders is about two men, Boaz and George, who meet on Grindr. But their relationship is fraught with tension from the start as one is from Lebanon while the other is from Israel, countries with hostilities between them that prevents the protagonists from truly connecting. This is not helped by the cultural and political differences ingrained in the two characters.

The story certainly feels like something with gravitas that should be told and should be heard. But the execution perhaps lets it down a little. The dialogue could be improved, the actors could be given a bit more material to really eke out their talent; it could have an ending instead an abrupt stop and the characters could be a little more fully formed so that certain words and actions don’t feel like an unexplained surprise to the audience.

That said, there’s a lot of good in this play. There’s a really interesting exploration of how simply being born where you are dictates so much about how you have to grow up and who you’re allowed to talk to – and even fall in love with. Just because some people generations ago drew an arbitrary border and decided that those one side had to live a certain way while those on the other side had to live differently. And all the people since have had no choice. That’s such a powerful thought.

Borders is a good enough short play for those that are particularly interested in the story. But it feels like there’s a lot more to bring out.

Jim Compton-Hall

Borders הגדר ألسياج is at the Vaults from 7^th February until 12^th February 2023. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.