Solo performance shows are virtually a staple part of Fringe Festivals, typically of comprised of a versatile performer, alone on a stage with perhaps a couple of props and not much else. ‘Flight’ by Martin Lytton, takes the genre a stage further, incorporating a huge number of props requiring the actor to make full use of a large performance area, effective (and at times, very sophisticated) sound effects, dramatic lighting (albeit used sparingly) and some off-stage voices.
Added to this is a very talented performer who with the aid of basic costume items such as a pair of glasses or a skull cap, presents a myriad of interesting characters surrounding the life of the central protagonist who, born with social disadvantages into a poor, rural community in Bangladesh, struggles to better his life, find love and fight his inner demons.
Naz Sheikh not only plays all the characters but is also the narrator, intermittently telling the story in a measured, calm voice and going into lively characters, from an oppressive passport official to excitable markets traders, the protagonist’s mother, mad beggars and numerous other people who appear in one man’s journey from a life with few prospects in a rural backwater of Bangladesh to a new existence of hope in the city of London.
Sheikh brings his characters to life through a quick-fire combination of vocal gymnastics, expressive facial contortions and the use of props, often depicting conversations whilst keeping the progress of the narrative grounded through the reassuring persona of the narrator. It is also a very physical performance, frequently involving climbing a step ladder, throwing cloths around the stage, dancing and sometimes even singing.
There is more to this production than just characters. A virtual world is created, from the sound of children laughing whilst playing in a river to the hustle and bustle of a village market, interspersed with the sound of aircraft flying overhead and ultimately the traffic and noise of London. Electronic sounds are occasionally used to denote the main character’s inner mental torrent but with the exceptional of a single joyous moment, to director Jacqui Crago’s credit, there is no reliance on any background music to create either effects or atmosphere.
This is an intensely human story and is ultimately about hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. No attempt is made to go into any background religious or political issues, even though it no secret that the central character is from an Islamic background, hoping to move to a largely secular western democracy. A nice touch is that a key element in his quest to get to England involves, on the advice of a mentor, embracing the works of his chosen county’s greatest playwright, referencing his own life with quotations from Twelfth Night, Henry the Fifth and Hamlet. Another refreshing element, particular in the light of recent, divisive protests from various political spectrums in this country, is that once arriving in England, he embraces the Union Jack to such a degree that he even breaks the fourth wall by engaging the front row with bunting.
This is a very personal story that manages to retain cultural authenticity without getting sidetracked into wider political and religious issues, fully utilising the varied skills of Naz Sheikh in combination with wide-ranging effects and props. A powerful and uplifting story told through a stella performance.
https://greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk/events/flight-one-mans-journey/
Reviewer: John Waterhouse
On: 03.07.26
