The Special Relationship

90 mins, 2020

Filmed at Soho Theatre in March 2020, a darkly funny and biting satire which exposes the complex and heart-breaking stories behind the deportations of ex-prisoners from the US. A grain of cocaine, a digit on a breathalyser, a forged cheque, a DEA sting or murder one? Caught in the transatlantic tango between Trump and May and smugly presented by a gun-toting immigration officer, these are verbatim stories of double punishment and separation. Gripping accounts of justice and separation are brought to vivid life in a fast-paced and theatrically daring production using savage comedy, surreal metaphor and verbatim testimony from those who ended up on the wrong side of the criminal justice system. The Special Relationship was developed from interviews with ex-prisoners and experts in immigration and criminal law, the award-winning playwright Hassan Abdulrazzak carves a rich dramatic narrative and uncovers vital questions around identity and place as he gets behind the political rhetoric of those caught up in the quagmire of immigration detention and deportation. ‘A powerful force’ ★★★★ Sunday Times ‘A fascinating insight into the arbitrary nature of deportation’ ★★★★ Theatre-News Written by Hassan Abdulrazzak Directed by Esther Baker With Amrita Acharia, Moyo Akandé, Nicholas Beveney, Yvette Boakye, Miranda Foster, Fergal McElherron, Duncan Wisbey. This is an exclusive archive recording of the show filmed during its run in our Theatre space in March 2020. Presented by Synergy Theatre Project, which creates ground-breaking work across theatre and the criminal justice system. www.synergytheatreproject.co.uk Soho Theatre On Demand. The best shows from London’s most vibrant producer of new theatre, comedy and cabaret.

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