REVIEW: Money at the Southwark Playhouse (Online)

In lockdown, we have all got used to logging on to zoom calls for meetings and experienced the difference between these virtual meetings and real face to face ones especially when it comes to difficult decisions. Isla Van Tricht uses this situation to craft a very well written debate about the ethics behind a funding decision of a small local charity. It has the feel of a cross between the real-life Jackie Weaver's Handsworth Council zoom meeting and the Kids Company Charity that spectacularly ceased operations in 2015. 

The zoom call is the Trustees meeting of the Nyoni Youth and Community Project, a small local charity supporting young people, breaking down discrimination and cycles of destructive behaviour. Their rather clumsy motto is "Lift others up, so they can lift others up". As in so many real-life charities, fundraising has been curtailed by Lockdown, NYCP is short of cash when the Anders Corporation Foundation offers a transformational size donation of £1 million, five times the normal annual expenditure. Taking the money, it seems, is a no brainer decision as it will allow the Charity to expand to the next level, but does it matter where the money came from or how it was secured as a donation or what the donor might expect in return for the cash? 

Through impassioned speeches, secrets revealed in breakout rooms and the threat of closure of the Project or resignation of a Trustee, the audience are asked to act as the Trust members and via a simple majority vote decide whether the money should be accepted. Should money earned from the production of unethically produced Palm oil be accepted? Is it acceptable that the donor should flirt with a member of staff of the charity? Is any money generated by a capitalist enterprise acceptable? Should funds be used to pay a charity worker a proper salary or only on the projects they deliver?

The production works not just because of the interesting ethical dilemma and good writing but also because the cast of six creates their characters very well. Sarel Madziya makes a very good professional debut as Angela Nyoni the earnest dedicated CEO of the charity desperate to honour her father's legacy. Aaron Douglas is a professional successful man who Chairs the charity and is a stickler for protocol and process. Louissin-Torah Pilikian is the naive passionate young Youth and Community Officer who secures the offer of the donation but at what cost?

The two Independent Trustees are Kaia (played by Nemide May) an eco-entrepreneur promoting her ethical brand and Avery (played by Adam Rachid Lazaar, also making his professional debut) who makes an impassioned argument that we are all guilty of engaging with unethical businesses in our daily life. This cast of five is joined in a promotional video by Mel Giedroyc as the founder and CEO of Anders Corporation overselling the virtues of her company and the power of money. Together they create distinctive realistic characters on the zoom call with appropriately dressed backgrounds for each person. When Glenn reveals the truth of his own background a whole new dimension is touchingly introduced to the decision.

The technology works well enabling you to switch between breakout rooms and vote in the poll and despite being muted with just your name in vision, you feel part of the decision. On my visit, I was surprised I voted differently from the majority. Did it make a difference that it was £1m and not £50,000 at stake? Would it make a difference if the source were an unethical activity in the UK rather than the other side of the world? When is it acceptable to put your own needs ahead of the global issues? It's a good debate, with well-made arguments and an enjoyable call. How would you vote? Sign up to take part!

Review by Nick Wayne 

Rating: ★★★★

Seat: Online | Price of Ticket: £15