Look at Us
Drama
Ciaran John as HE and Linda Wachaga as SHE in the rehearsed reading of the play at Pages of Hackney | Photograph by Fiachra O’Riain
"I wasn’t talking about the situation, for a change."
"Babe. We are the situation."
In a dingy Dalston flatshare a young couple are sitting it out. Unable to deal with what is happening to the world (and everything that isn’t happening for them), they are spending their nights and days in bed — in thrall of their phones, but feeling disconnected, alone, powerless. As they negotiate their faltering relationship in the suffocating confinement of a bedroom, tensions are beginning to rise.
Will you dare to look at them?
Written in close collaboration between the writers and poets Daniel Kramb and JJ Bola, Look at Us is a play that takes on the political situation, gender roles, class, sexuality, and the influence of social media.
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A rehearsed reading, directed by Liisa Smith, took place at Pages of Hackney on 6 June 2019, featuring Linda Wachaga as SHE and Ciaran John as HE.
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“We wanted it to be the kind of play that people will come to see who don’t usually go to the theatre. It’s a play about young people and we want young people to come and see it.” — Talking to the Hackney Citizen about Look at Us
"In going public with the piece, the writers are hoping that the spirit of collaboration will continue through feedback and responses from the audience."
— Hackney Citizen
From the left: Actors Ciaran John and Linda Wachaga; director Liisa Smith; writers JJ Bola and Daniel Kramb at Pages of Hackney
The crew
JJ Bola is a writer and poet of three collections; Elevate (2012), Daughter of the Sun (2014), and WORD (2015). His debut novel, No Place to Call Home, was first published in the UK in 2017.
Originally from Estonia, Liisa Smith graduated from King’s College London / RADA with a postgraduate degree in theatre directing. Previous London credits include The Highway Crossing at the Blue Elephant Theatre and The Arcola (Time Out Critic’s Choice), On Raftery’s Hill at The Rosemary Branch (Time Out 4***), The Bird Sanctuary at The Rosemary Branch (Time Out Critic’s Choice), Happy Everyday! at The Lion and Unicorn, An Experiment with an Air Pump at the Lion and Unicorn (co-produced with The Giant Olive Theatre Company), and Belfy at The Space. Estonian credits include Poor Beast in the Rain (Vanemuine Repertory Theatre), Purge (Vanemuine Repertory Theatre: extended for three seasons, completed a national tour, and performed by invitation at the Finnish National Theatre), and chamber opera The Last Monogamist (Kamber). St Albans productions include The Beauty Queen of Leenane at the Abbey Theatre; and God of Carnage, Under the Blue Sky, and Betrayal at the Maltings Arts Theatre.
Linda Wachaga is an up and coming actor, Kenyan, brought up in Manchester. Last year she moved to London to embark on a degree in Biomedical sciences alongside further opportunities in the arts sector. She has been a supporting artist for numerous TV and film productions but more recently has pursued roles in theatre. This year she was involved in the “Act II Festival” at the Arcola Theatre, co-lead in the play: “The Lost Spell”, written by Ayotomi Aif and directed by Sia Kim. As well as Cuntemporary’s “Ecofutures Festival”, performing in “From Chibok to Calais” curated by Eca Eps.
Ciaran John is an actor with a strong background in devising and collaboration. He's an Associate Artist of absurdist theatre makers LoudGround, and is currently working with them on their new show, 'SNAPPER', which explores belief systems, and the individual's place in the community. Ciaran frequently devises and performs in immersive productions, this year, he will be working on the theatrics for BoomTown Festival. Other recent work includes 'Turtle's Don't Like Plastic' (dir. Annabel Morley, Todos Teatro, Brighton Fringe) and 'The Viewing' (Dir. Claire Macneill, The Ninth Life).