Theatre: The Mikvah Project, The Yard Theatre, Hackney Wick

​A Mikvah is a communal pool of water used in the Jewish faith for ritual immersion. It is around such a pool that Josh Azouz's play is staged at The Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick.  The play explores the relationship between Avi and Eitan,  two Jews who attend the same North London synagogue.  Avi is 35 and happily married, trying unsuccessfully for a baby with his wife. Eitan is only 17, and for some inexplicable reason, he feels completely drawn to Avi.  

Azouz cleverly focuses the audience's attention to the pool of water that encircles Avi and Eitan, and as the play flits between each actor's thoughts, we become swept up in the intensity of Eitan's relentless pursuit of Avi, in spite of the boundaries imposed by their religion and sexual identity.  Eitan tells his side of the story with an endearing cham. This in turn served to highlight Avi's inability to cope with Eitan's advances, and in one toe-curling moment, Avi resorts to using a football analogy in an attempt to persuade Eitan that his attraction to an older man is simply a momentarily wrinkle in his life. Eitan remains undeterred, and eventually the plot takes a surreal, dreamlike turn. Whilst I am left wondering whether Avi's feelings for Eitan are credible, in the end I realise that this doesn't matter - the performances given by both actors has given me enough to ponder all week.

The meatiness of the themes in The Mikvah Project was balanced nicely with some genuinely funny moments as Avi and Eitan described snippets of Jewish life in North London.  The Yard itself was the perfect venue to give effect to the eerie, swimming-pool lighting and the live music provided by the actors.  As each actor took turns narrating, the other would sing, livelooping from traditional Jewish chanting to Chris Isaacs, to Haim. So very clever indeed.  Oh, and two minor details - for a large chunk of the play both actors are completely naked, and if sitting in the front row there will be some water soakage involved!

The Mikvah Project will be at The Yard Theatre until 21 March 2015.