Writer: Tafadzwa Muchenje
Director: Rosie MacPherson
Ripples is a deeply personal play written and performed by Tafadzwa Muchenje. In this (almost) one man show, we see Muchenje enjoying life in the UK – growing on the Isle of Wight, going to university in Manchester and then moving to London to become an actor. The tone pivots quickly as we learn that Muchenje is refused his right to remain by the Home Office, despite his family being granted right to remain at exactly the same time.
This is Tafadzwa Muchenje’s first writing commission and for that it is very impressive. The play takes the audience through a roller coaster of emotions – from laughter to sadness to anger. Some sequences could be tightened as they go on a little too long, but for a show that is early in development it is already very strong. Where sometimes one person plays can feel like simply long monologues, Ripples never does. The tone shifts a perfect number of times and tension builds wonderfully. The writing also feels very authentic – it is so clear that Muchenje is telling his own story in his own voice.
As a performer, Muchenje is incredibly impressive. Likeable from the second he begins to speak, he holds the audience in the palm of his hands. He has the confidence to speak directly to each member of the small audience, meaning everyone is up for it in the moments of impactful audience participation. He demonstrates a huge range of emotions and methods of storytelling through his performance, giving everything he has in every second he is on stage. In the play, Muchenje speaks of his ambitions to have a hardhitting fringe show, West End jobs, red carpets, TV and film work – one can’t help but feel this is most certainly in Muchenje’s future should he want it. Watching Ripples it really felt like a star had been born.
The creative team also deserve a wealth of praise for the creativity and skill they display to bring this story to life in the unconventional performance space. Rosie MacPherson is at the helm of the production as the director. She works with Muchenje to use the very intimate traverse space well, ensuring every member of the audience feels included. Matt Powell’s video design grounds moments in Muchenje’s idyll, whilst the reality of his awful situation bleed through. Charly Dunford’s lighting design complements Powell’s video design perfectly, moving us seamlessly from location to location. Lee Affen’s composition works perfectly with the writing and his sound design really helps immerse us into the action. He controls the sound live on stage which is a great addition to the show, but it would have been nice to have more moments when he is brought into the action – where this does happen, it happens to great effect.
As the UK’s first Theatre Company of Sanctuary, based in Sheffield, a City of Sanctuary, this is exactly the sort of story Stand and Be Counted should be giving space to tell – deeply human, deeply moving and deeply eye-opening and infuriating. This reviewer certainly hopes Ripples can continue to grow and develop – it is a story everyone needs to hear.
Runs until 13 September 2025
The Reviews Hub Star Rating
80%
Important, must-see theatre