Play Review: Inigo

Fayez Bakhsh

A new play which opened on the London fringe last week explores the life of St Ignatius Loyola.

Inigo, written and directed by Jonathan Moore at the White Bear Theatre in Lambeth is a fast-moving production - opening with the arrogant young Basque nobleman caught up in a violent brawl. The linear plot line takes us through his injury at the Battle of Pamplona, (Pampeluna) his long convalescence, conversion experience, and faith journey towards his emergence as a new religious leader and founder of the Jesuits. We accompany Ignatius on his arduous journeys across Europe (I always wonder where he went when he came to England) and as far as the Holy Land. We see his interrogations by various Inquisitions, concerned that he might be spreading Lutheran heresies and suspicious of his new Spiritual Exercises.

Fayez Bakhsh is intense and thoughtful in the title role. There are some fine cameo performances and good ensemble work from the rest of the seven-strong cast, who each take on a number of roles - among them Tom Durant-Pritchard as Francis Xavier, Matthew Howell as Pierre Favre, and Tom Kay as Nicholas Bobadilla.

This giant subject does deserve a larger stage. It did feel quite cramped - especially in the fight scenes. I also found the script a little dense and wonder whether someone coming new to the story would be able to take in so much information. Given the limitations of the small theatre - a slightly simpler play might be more effective.

But - I've done a search and can't find a play or film made on life of this great saint in the past 40 years. The subject could not be more topical as we have our first-ever Jesuit Pope. Hats off to all the cast and director for a production that has real heart and integrity.

INIGO runs from 4 – 28 February 2015 at the WHITE BEAR THEATRE, 138 Kennington Park Rd, SE11 4DJ Tuesday to Saturday 7.30pm - Sunday matinees 4pm - Tickets £14 (concessions £10) Box office tel: 0844 8700 88 www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk (no booking fee for website bookings}