Hi everyone and welcome back to another review! This one has a very warm and loving story and shows how much a person with a disability can achieve.
Coming from Bangladesh to London in the 1970’s sets the scene of Rajkumar, a young deaf cricket player. Through dance, comedy, expression and lighting comes a tale of struggles, being understood and trying to fit in. As well as his love for cricket! This tells the story of Rajkumar and his local community. What it was like living in London at the time, and what happened to that community after the 9/11 tragedy in the US.
This story lets you go through all the emotions just as the characters did. Giving you a flavour of what it might have been like for them. The use of subtitles and narration from the actor himself was a nice added touch as you could really feel how he must have felt at the time. It was a real education to a country, religion and community I have never really encountered before until now. I never understood why cricket was so popular in Bangladesh and that part of the world. But I do now.
For me sadly, this show had moments where I missed out on what seemed to be key elements of the show and story. Due to level of choregraphed dance and miming, this show was extremely visual from start to finish. Without the narration, along with the subtitles. I would have missed on the show completely and not have been able to follow it. It goes without saying that for the Deaf and Hard of Community this show is amazing and ticks all the right boxes in terms of accessibility. It’s amazing to see any form of disability recognised within the theatre industry! However, I can’t help but feel that people with a Visual Impairment were not even given a thought here. For me, Audio Description is a must! This can be easily implemented into the recorded narration. I also struggled to read the subtitles at times as they were so high up on the back wall. I feel they could have been made larger in a bigger font. I also understand why the creatives chose the font they did, as it fits in with the theming of the show. Unfortunately it made it very hard to read. Luckily for me I could just about make it out, but I know there would be some others that would struggle with it.
The quick change to low lighting made scenes very difficult to see as your eyes need to change quickly to the change in lighting. Again, I understand it was done for dramatic effect. But this added to the show being difficult to follow.
Overall, then, I would I recommend this show for the everyday theatre person? Absolutely! The use of music, storytelling and dance is something I’m sure theatre hasn’t seen in a very long time and is a breath of fresh air! I love the fact that there is a show talking about the highs and lows of having a disability and what a person can go through living day to day life. But can I recommend this show for people with a level of sight loss? Unless Audio Description is added into future shows at a minimum. I don’t think I can. I can’t get away from the feeling that it just doesn’t feel like people with sight loss were thought of, and more needs to be done to make this show accessible for us too.
Even though I’ve said what I’ve said above. I don’t want to take away the amazing work that Nadeem Islam, the director Harry Jardine and everyone have done here! It’s so amazing to see disability shown in theatre and I wish them every success with this, as this show is a great example of awareness and the level to which some people with disabilities can and do go through. But if I come at this from a sight loss prospective which is what I try to do… Then more needs to be done to make this accessible for all.
‘The Only Brown Deaf Man in England’ is currently at The Mercury Theatre in Colchester from 16th – 17th October 2026. With a UK Tour to follow. Tickets and more information can be found by clicking the link here.
Until Next Time,
The VI Critic
