Playwright and actor Paul Herzberg served as a South African conscript during the Angolan war and based The Dead Wait, first performed in 1997, partly on his own military experiences and partly on an account from a fellow soldier.
Former national athlete Josh (Austin Hardiman) is enlisted in the South African Defence Force in 1989 under his brutal captain, Papa Louw (Herzberg). In a destroyed Angolan village they capture wounded black freedom fighter George (Maynard Eziashi). Suspecting that he might be one of “Mandela’s mob”, Papa orders Josh to carry their prisoner back across the border for interrogation as a political exile. Somewhat predictably, as one hauls the other over seemingly endless miles of African bush — represented by the barren, sunburnt set — they start to form a bond of respect and friendship.
Herzberg’s script confidently approaches hefty themes of overbearing post-war guilt and the ruthless process of dehumanisation integral to combat. However, some of the dialogue is stilted and the juddering pace of Joe Harmston’s production means characters’ emotional shifts aren’t as clear as they could be.
Until Dec 1 (020 7870 6876, parktheatre.co.uk)
