REVIEW: FOAL by Titas Halder at Finborough Theatre 5-30 May 2026
'rage and poetry' ★★★★
That rage is in good hands with Amar Chadha-Patel, who plays the solo role of AK, a young Indian-British boy growing up on an island which is not very tolerant of nuance, of difference, of a family with a different background.
The love interest. The rival. The racism. They are all there in this mostly storytelling, at times spoken word poetry of a piece: high energy, staccato phrases. AK’s early crush on Katie is spoiled by her fling with Max, a rival since the early days on the football pitch. This coming-of-age starts during 90s Britain and takes us into AK’s adulthood. Sometimes victim, sometimes aggressor, AK moves between gentle, caring moments (sharing music with his best friend) and having to find ways to stand up for himself. The violent, if slightly anticipated, ending splits in two parts, which is also foreshadowed, and yet not predictable. And there is sufficient humour to alleviate this pressure cooker of a play.
Chadha-Patel is captivating from the start. Despite this being his stage debut, he is no stranger to acting and this is a compelling part for him to chomp on, requiring a tremendous energy from him. He commands the space, and he demands attention, and despite his intensity, makes us laugh at moments; it is beautifully directed by Annie Kershaw. His gentleness and power range helps him take the voices of father, mother, nemesis, lover, rather than imitating voices.
The set has everything despite its deceptive simplicity. The bold, round light at the front that contrasts with the streetlight upstage, the mike slightly off-stage. A single bench so central. The slight fog that becomes evident in certain light evokes a sense of the sea air. The constant background beat, building tension.
There is a lot to unpack in this piece, especially about familial responsibility and expectation, but the largest themes are about finding yourself with so much against oneself. There is resonance of these themes today, even as political tensions rise along racial lines. There are moments that speak to me, having grown up not on an island, but with a similar background in a different land. Hearing a story I can connect to like this… well, it’s poetry to my ears.
Photography: Steve Gregson
Presented by
Indira Varma and HFH Productions In association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre
Written by Titas Halder
Performed by Amar Chadha-Patel
Directed by Annie Kershaw
Assistant Director:Jillian Feuerstein
Set and Costume Designer: Cara Evans
Lighting Designer: Rajiv Pattani
Composer and Sound Designer: Pierre Flasse
