The Real Ones at Bush Theatre

Can a friendship survive the passage of time? That’s the question writer Waleed Akhtar poses in his latest offering The Real Ones, reuniting with director Anthony Simpson-Pike for their second collaboration after the Olivier Award-winning The P Word. This time, Akhtar aims to explore platonic relationships, using the friendship of Zaid (played by Nathaniel Curtis) and Neelam (played by Mariam Haque), and how they change and adapt as one goes through the movements of life.

We follow Zaid and Neelam from their early teenage years at university, where their bond is impenetrable; strengthened by their shared heritage and culture as British Pakistanis, and the personal complexities of this as it relates to love, sex and romance. We also learn that they are united by a parallel desire to turn their respective creative outlets as writers into a career, and how they frequently push and support each other in this dream. Fast forward to nearly two decades later where they struggle to maintain their friendship, as Neelam is married to Deji (Nnabiko Ejimofor), and building a family and a career in law, whilst, Zaid, after years of rejection has finally made it as a playwright and enjoys an independent life of indulgence. Not only have their personal lives and professional expectations diverged, but they no longer recognise how the other fits into their lives.

Credit should be given to Akhtar’s writing, which charts the changing dynamics of a friendship in a realistic and measured way. Despite dealing with themes such as homophobia, racism, prejudice and abandonment, the dialogue is refreshingly light and humorous at times. The simple, limited set design ensures that the audience’s focus is entirely on the dialogue and the performance of the actors.

However, in this case, it was slightly to its detriment as the characterisation felt slightly inauthentic – one had the sense that the actors hadn’t had time to get fully in tune with their characters, as if they were still feeling them out, making the play feel potentially under-rehearsed. Additionally, there were some scenes in which the emotional intensity was beginning to build, and the performances were developing organically, only for them, disappointingly, to be cut short. At a runtime of nearly two hours, and no interval, the piece would’ve benefitted from tighter editing in certain parts. What does remain, however, is a story that is instantly relatable to anyone who has lost a friend in the shameless course of time, and that is admirable.

Sunny Morgan
Photos: Helen Murray

The Real Ones is at Bush Theatre from 10^th September until 19^th October 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.