[Ali Wright]

WATCH OUR NEW FILM CHANNEL: UNTOLD LONDON

GIGI (Tanvi Virmani) and Dar (Lola Shalam), two armed soldiers and best friends, are guarding road­block 432 in an unknown conflict. The pair are looking forward to being discharged from the army. As they wait, in true Beckettian style, they play games to pass the time and imagine what they’ll do with their new-found freedom.

Dar has a boyfriend and is planning her wedding. Gigi hides a secret that threatens to derail their friendship. Their lives are upended when a pregnant woman, Zoz (Chipo Chung), and her teenage son Sim (Roman Asde, in an assured professional debut) pass by on their way to the hospital.

In a heartbeat the mood changes in Josh Azouz’s timely play and we move from gentle comedy to horror. Azouz’s writing is a little baggy in the middle but a compelling storyline and dynamic perfor­m­ances keep us invested in the drama and director Kathryn Hunter injects a good pace throughout.

Gigi and Dar constantly upends our expectations. Michael Vale’s simple set, recalling Samuel Beckett’s desolate landscapes, is effective and the production’s flashes of brilliance far outweigh the occasional dips in dramatic tension. Full of verve, with a devastating conclusion, this is another hit for the Arcola.

Catch it while you can.

Until November 2
arcolatheatre.com