Stories of courage are fascinating and challenging. The story of Noor Inayat Khan by Azma Dar is both of those things. Remembrance season, when we acknowledge the terrible losses of war, is an apt time to tell a rather neglected story from our World War Two history, writes Katie Kelly.
Noor made the extraordinary decision to volunteer as an undercover radio operator in Nazi-controlled France at a time when the average life expectancy for people undertaking this task in the field was six weeks. To do this at all is remarkable. To take those risks as an Indian woman, born in Russia and raised mostly in France, someone with every reason to resent helping the British colonisers of her home nation is even more surprising.
Though her backstory as an Indian princess might not have prepared her for the rigours of undercover work, her fluency in French and unusually fast code transmission skill, made her ideal. She lasted five months in the field before being captured, imprisoned and ultimately executed in Dachau concentration camp. Her self-sacrifice and heroism continued in captivity, where she gave away no information and attempted escape with devastating consequences.
The Kali Theatre Company, responsible for this production at the Southwark Playhouse, exists to amplify the voices of South Asian women and so one might have expected them to bring depth and complexity to Noor’s story. Unfortunately, this was not fully realised. The telling seemed as much shaped by British TV takes on the French resistance story, such as ‘Allo Allo’ or perhaps more flatteringly ‘The Secret Army’, as the Sufism that shaped Noor’s values and decision making. There is an unnecessary subplot involving her handler Vera Atkins and the German soldier Kieffer who held her in custody. Chris Porter as Kieffer gave the most subtle performance of the night, despite having to say the cliched line ‘I was only following orders.’ Annice Boparai started rather unconvincingly naïve but added increasing depth to her portrayal of Noor, particularly in the final scenes.
The set is impressive. A transverse stage with lighting that mirrors the code transmissions, and hidden compartments symbolising the undercover operations, bring the action right into the audience and make every seat a good one. Given the value of a Southwark Playhouse ticket, I would say that this makes an entertaining if slightly thin telling of an important story, worth the price of admission.
Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, SE1 6BD until November 26th. Times: 8pm, 3.30pm matinees. Admission: £24, £20.
Booking: www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk – 0207 407 0234
