My name is Rachel Corrie is based on a true story. Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner edited journal entries and letters of a 23-year-old political activist and college student, Rachel Corrie, to create this 100-minute monologue.
As part of a college assignment, Corrie travels to Rafah, a part of the Gaza strip, completely unaware of the extent to which her experience there would affect her. A seemingly ordinary girl’s compassion causes her own tragic death when she is crushed to death by a bulldozer after placing herself between the bulldozer and a Palestinian family’s house about to be demolished.
Kate Liquorish is phenomenal in her role as Rachel Corrie and takes the audience on a journey right from the start. She becomes Corrie and allows the truth and realness of the events to tell the story instead of overdriving emotions. Nothing is overstated, and clear, nuanced growth takes place in the character.
The creative and technical team behind this production have created a marvellous piece. The set design by Ilka Louw is interesting, with off-centre elements complementing the disturbing nature of Corrie’s story. Paul Abrams’s lights and James Webb’s sound design are subtle enough not to overpower the performance, but quite present enough to completely transform the performance space into Rachel Corrie’s world.
Although it is an extremely pressing subject for political and peace activists internationally, I must admit that I am not particularly up to date with the policies around the USA and its role in the war in the Middle East, which made it difficult to relate to Corrie’s experiences at all times. There are, however, more than enough other universalities that will strike a chord with all just, compassionate human beings desperate for a world in which equality and respect for others reigns. This is a brave play which evokes conversation about realities in the world which are not to be ignored any longer.
My name is Rachel Corrie had its last festival performance at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival on Saturday evening.