Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, Sheffield – until Saturday 12 October 2024
Reviewed by Sharon Farley
4****
Step into the innate intimacy of the Sheffield Theatres Playhouse and you are greeted by the centrally positioned performance area. The colourful but minimal stage set of Dizzy belies the carefully crafted lighting that punctuates the piece. Its piercing force enhances the drama of the inner world the principal character, Qamar (Sera Mustafa), sinks into whenever the external world overwhelms her. The deceptively simple set allows Mustafa’s deft footwork to paint the scenery with her use of space, be it scaling the heights or laying out the aisles of a hardware store.
Qamar is a 15 year old maths genius struggling to come to terms with the death of her older brother, Yasin. Haunted by questions on the nature of Yasin’s final moments, Qamar’s grief is interrupted by the sudden appearance of Stax (Brendan Barclay), an infamous graffiti artist. Though they begin by crossing swords, it soon becomes apparent that Stax is able to lead Qamar to the secret world her brother had previously inhabited. Unbeknown to his family, graffiti had been a central part of Yasin’s lifestyle, and through Stax, Qamar ventures through its rites of passage and learns its underground language. The pair traverse a rocky course; they are not automatic allies and have to negotiate their differences to find a way to help each other reach their goals. Along the way, they touch on diverse themes of modern existence whilst also delivering a sprinkling of humour to illuminate the path.
Stax reveals he too has had to face the loss of someone close and guides Qamar through the healing process he drew upon, using his art to connect with those he lost and learning to equate the fragility and impermanence of life with the temporary nature of graffiti itself. Through this journey, Qamar not only learns to pay homage to her lost brother, but reconnects with him by delving into this unfamiliar world. Holding him closer in death than she had in life enables Qamar to find peace, and even some joy through creativity.
As well as telling a compelling story, Dizzy also uncovers the vernacular and deeper nature of graffiti culture that many might never have considered before, evidencing the thorough research done by the writer, Olivier nominated Mohamed-Zain Dada. This performance will easily cross the divide between audiences of all ages.