15.39°C Creating an entertaining play around the controversial subjects of immigration, racism and identity would pose a challenge to even the best writers, which makes Mohit Mathur’s Dial 1 for UK a terrific achievement. It played for one night only in The Mercury Theatre Studio to a small but appreciative audience, and I felt privileged to be there.
Mohit’s play is very well written, but it’s his performance as Uday Kumar (UK) that really hits the spot. As mentioned, it’s a piece about very difficult subjects, yet Mohit manages to produce a character who remains charming and engaging throughout despite his obvious faults and flaws.
UK works in a call centre in New Delhi for a cryptocurrency helpline, dealing daily with customers who are being ripped off or exploited. It’s a thankless job for minimum wage. He dreams of going to the UK, where he hopes to build a new life for himself. Eventually, he finds the means to fly to London, where reality hits almost immediately. He begins working in care, looking after Major Robinson, a 95-year-old living with dementia, attending to all his personal needs. UK has nowhere to live or sleep, spending the rest of his time trying to attract a following as a YouTube influencer, filming in tourist hotspots around London. His dream is destined to fail, as his reality is far less glamorous, taking Major Robinson to the toilet in Hounslow.
Eventually, in desperation, UK tries to extort money from Major Robinson’s absentee son, leading to a police interview that could result in deportation. UK then vanishes, like so many others, into the underground world and economy. It sounds bleak, but Mohit’s performance is so refreshing, ebullient and relentlessly cheerful that the audience is willing UK to succeed every step of the way. It’s only at the end, when his hopes are crushed, that he truly wilts. Until then, he faces every hurdle and barrier, racist comments, false job promises, homelessness and rejection, with fortitude and determination.
The set consists of clippings, stands, ribbons, and bulldog clips, accompanied by AI-generated photographs of the characters UK encounters. It’s an imaginative and effective design, enhanced by the clever use of his mobile phone as a storytelling device.
The direction by the legendary Phil Willmott is, as expected, first-class. Dial 1 for UK is 65 minutes of excellent theatre: relevant, topical and hard-hitting, yet always accessible and entertaining. It could easily have become something worthy but dull, but Mohit Mathur ensures it never does. That balance is his greatest achievement, and he should be very proud of it.
Dial 1 for UK is currently on tour, with the following remaining dates:
7th November Worcester Theatre, Worcester
8th November Riverfront, Newport
13th November MAC, Birmingham
14th November Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
15th November Front Room, Weston Super Mare
20th November The Place, Bedford
Review by Tim Young
