#Charlottesville is a fast-paced exploration of the Unite the Right rally of 2017 in Charlottesville and Priyanka Shetty\u2019s own experience of being a woman of colour in America at that time. Channelling a range of characters including professors at her university, newsreaders, lawyers and witnesses from the court case that arose from the rally, and many lived-experience interviews of people from that time, this is an intense look at racism and how it intersects with the hopes of the American dream.<\/p>\n
Shetty\u2019s writing moves between courtroom, her studies and the in-between. The text shows the sheer amount of research that must have gone into the show: the deep dive into the situation of the time through court reports and interviews, as well as Shetty\u2019s own experiences, meld together to caption a period of time that leaves us with a feeling of doom and sadness. In a place where there should have been growth for Shetty and her dream, instead there is a harsher reality.<\/p>\n
Shetty is a confident performer as she alternates betweeen direct address, performance, filmed clips, voiceovers and a simple set. Shetty moves at pace between the different voices, although at times this could benefit from time to breathe to let us catch up. Yury Urnov\u2019s direction makes great use of the small space, ensuring that every nook and cranny is used. This is a piece of powerful writing that raises awareness of challenges that have not disappeared but instead have come to the fore.<\/p>\n