Theatre Royal Stratford East – until 14 July 2026
Reviewed by Jackie Thornton
4****
Arresting chunky pink neon letters light our backdrop aptly spelling out Chunkyz, the Shisha Lounge setting for Mohamed-Zain Dada’s latest Olivier nominated play, Blue Mist. First shown at the Royal Court Upstairs in 2023, it’s touring England and currently playing in the heart of East London for five nights only.
In Chunkyz lounge, three childhood friends ascend from beneath the floorboards, through the mists of time, landing balletically on the bright green sofas of this community space to share a hookah and some gossip. A simple, clean set from designer Tomas Palmer pairs artfully with Elliot Grigg’s ethereal lighting design, enhancing the many unearthly sequences which seem intended to reflect protagonist Jihad’s inner turmoil.
Jihad, played with a light touch by Omar Bynon, is an aspiring journalist on the verge of giving up on his dreams when the opportunity to pitch a documentary idea for a podcast enters his realm. Friends Rashid – a wonderfully physical, funny and moving performance from Azan Ahmed – and Asif, played with great comic timing and physicality by Kashif Ghole, encourage him to be their success story. We’re in ends, West London where opportunities don’t grow on trees. Rash is a baggage handler at Heathrow and Asif has clawed his way up to assistant manager at a car rental firm. But as Jihad goes about finding his angle little do his old friends know that the ambitious reporter is about to exploit their shared and personal stories, told in the sanctity of Chunkyz. Will their friendship survive this gross breach of trust?
Chunky himself is present only through occasional voice over from the legendary Sanjeev Bhaskar but his journey is just as important to the story as the friends speculate on matters such as why Chunkyz is closed on Thursdays.
Milli Bhatia’s precise direction makes strong use of the clownish dynamic between Rash, Sif and Jihad to build in plenty of comic moments and there’s a standout scene where budding fitness trainer Rash delivers a boxing class to some aunties. It’s Asif who gets some of the best lines though with zingers like a date ordering half a chicken at Nando’s being a red flag for wifey material!
A deep affection for the uncles and aunties of the South Asian community represented shines through as Dada (Speed, Bush Theatre) once again unearths uncomfortable truths about the perceptions and reality of migrants living in Britain. This time he’s asking what the price is for gaining a stake in society and questioning the role the media plays in willfully misrepresenting young Muslim men.
Complex issues for complex times but not without a dash of charm and humour.