How many of us watch the news and just ‘switch off’ when there are reports of immigrants crossing the channel? Do those images of ragged people in small boats really sink in or do we just wait for the next programme to come on and forget all about it? I am guilty of this – I think we become desensitised to it all. In light of this I think that everyone should see The Boy with Two Hearts to witness their reality. This is not just a story of cruelty and women’s rights, it is a love story. It is the love of a family battling against terrible odds. It is also a true story, written by Hamed & Hessam Amiri, who lived it all, writes Lizzie Paul.
In the year 2000, the Amiris, an Afghan family, run for their lives when matriarch Fariba falls foul of the Taliban after protesting for women’s rights. Her husband, Mohammed, and their three boys are proud of her for doing so but the consequences are dire. The Taliban want Fariba dead and beat up Mohammed when they can’t find her, and so begins a race for the Amiris to get out of their homeland.
But the Amiri’s had another, bigger problem. Their eldest son, Hussein, has a life-threatening heart condition requiring specialist doctors and surgeons. Immediately, they run to the market, sell all of their belongings and arrange for friends to make safe passage for them out of Afghanistan – and to get help for Hussein.
What follows is a nightmare tour of various countries, travelling in the boots of cars, all five of them in a car boot in a lorry, jumping on to trains and risking their lives at every turn.
They end up in Moscow, in freezing weather wearing thin Arabic dress. They pop up in Austria, in France, in Germany. They are robbed of their life savings, get seasick, threatened by traffickers and look down the barrels of guns.
There are lighter moments, though, when the three boys play football; they play wherever they can with rolled up rags and jackets for goalposts, but with all the exuberance of youth.
Throughout the drama there is the constant reminder that Hussein is very ill. He has attacks and cannot breathe; the lighting effects to demonstrate this left me so panicky. I wanted to shout, ‘Call an ambulance! Get a doctor! Please, somebody, HELP’ It is very powerful stuff here.
Throughout the journey we meet other characters, all played by the cast of five. Most of them are evil, desperate and violent, and we learn of those that try to cross the sea but half way across are told to pay more money for their journey. Those that cannot pay are thrown overboard to drown.
Eventually, the family reach the safe waters of England and settle in Wales where the boys go to school, learn English and become success stories.
Ahmad Sakhi is spellbinding as Hussein, a bright boy with a big heart. The whole cast go above and beyond to bring this tragic but inspiring story to life. The beautiful and emotional background singing was provided by Elaha Soroor.
The cast received a well-deserved standing ovation. The ending left many in tears.
I now also carry Hussein Amiri in my heart.
Dorfman Theatre, National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 until 12th November. Times: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Wed & Sat matinees 2.30pm. Admission: £20 – £60
Booking: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
