Review: WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT - Lucian Msamati, Duchess Theatre
Photo credit: Sarah Larby
One thing you can never fault London for is its abundance of theatre. This is especially when the most is made of all available theatre space, such as one of the West End's smallest venues, the Duchess Theatre, on its dark night, Monday.
White Rabbit Red Rabbit premiered in 2011 and has since been translated into over 30 languages and performed almost 4,000 times. To celebrate its fifteenth anniversary newly formed theatre company There & Then, consisting of playwright Nassim Soleimanpour and director Omar Elerian, have gathered a sensational cast of A-list actors such as David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, and Riz Ahmed to take on the unique challenge of performing a play they have not encountered before. Last night, it was the turn of actor Lucian Msamati to open the brown envelope and perform their interpretation of Soleimanpour’s script, a version of the play that will never be seen again.
Nassim Soleimanpour wrote White Rabbit Red Rabbit when he was unable to leave his native country Iran, as he refused to complete military service and therefore was not granted a passport. In 2013, Soleimanpour gained his freedom to travel but the themes of the text: expression, obedience and complicity are as poignant as ever, especially in 2026 due to the conflict between Iran, Israel, and the USA. The play is about trust and power dynamics whether it be between a performer and an audience, state actors or a number of rabbits trapped in a cage competing for a carrot. Analogies and allegories are rife in White Rabbit Red Rabbit, and this is certainly a play that will get you thinking.
The beauty of White Rabbit Red Rabbit is its incredibly limited set: a table, chair, step ladder, two glasses of water and a vial. The actor provides their own 'costume' and lighting is limited to bringing them on and off. This simplicity paired with the intimate venue of the Duchess Theatre creates the perfect playful environment for this bold theatrical experience.
White Rabbit Red Rabbit is a cold reading, but Lucian Msamati brings a wonderful warmth to the play and is sure to lean into the comedic and slightly absurd elements. Soleimanpour uses each actor to convey his vital message and speaks to the audience directly at times but also leaves space for each actor’s interpretation. There are some dark themes of oppression, murder, and suicide, and there will be moments when you may feel unsettled, but Msamati fabulously navigates the audience through the rapid rollercoaster of emotions packed into just 70 minutes. Be warned, if you take a trip to the Duchess Theatre, you may find yourself on stage. Msamati welcomed every willing, or unwilling, performer onto the stage and added small additions to the script to instantly make them feel comfortable.
More so than traditional plays, White Rabbit Red Rabbit feels like a true shared experience. This is a play about possibility, and this sense of expectation and uncertainty are sure to mean White Rabbit Red Rabbit will continue to offer a unique theatrical experience to actors and theatregoers around the world for many more years to come.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Luck
