Tolu Agbelusi’s debut play Ilé la Wà (We are Home) is captivating, strong, emotional and thought-provoking. Set in London, UK – directed by Anni Domingo this play tells the story of four different individuals as they are detained together after a random spot check. Some individuals are undocumented migrants and others insist they are not.
Tension rise as Tapiwa (Mamito Kukwikila), Ellie (Damilola DK Fashola), Ronu (Winston Sarpong) and Sasha (Tolu Agbelusi) are left anxiously waiting in a room not knowing their fate. As time goes on their individual stories unfold as they start to open up, sharing pieces of their stories, they come from different backgrounds but they all have things in common.
Ilé la Wà takes you on a journey of emotions from anger to pain to sadness allowing you to look within to appreciate your own journey no matter how difficult it may be.
Ellie’s view point is different from the others often expressing how she is not meant to be there and how she is not like the others. A successful career woman to be CEO of a FTSE 100 company, Ellie has worked hard to establish herself, but it is apparent that she is dealing with issues of her own. Sasha is fighting for change in the system, passionate about the unjust treatment going on in society whilst battling with events from the past. Ronu a teenager from the ‘hood’ on a journey to establish himself and Tapiwa is a woman fighting and staying hopeful for the future.
Ilé la Wà explores themes of identity, immigration, displacement, mental health, belonging and the concept of ‘home’. The audience is kept entertained through great story telling, poetry and sound, enabling the audience to feel the pain and joy of each character’s journey and have an insight into who they are and what ‘home’ is to them. The concept of ‘home’ is explored through the stories of the characters whom even though here (London) is home, how can it be when it has not chosen you? This topic is relevant in today’s climate reflecting issues such as Windrush and those occurring in USA.
Ilé la Wà takes you on a journey of emotions from anger to pain to sadness allowing you to look within to appreciate your own journey no matter how difficult it may be. The play ends leaving the audience in suspense wanting to know how the story ends for the characters and questioning themselves on what ‘home’ is to them.
The show deserves four stars for being well crafted thought-provoking production which is relatable and relevant in today’s climate.
