Informed Conflict Relief

With so many sketch shows currently doing the rounds, it's nice to see one with an anchoring theme.

During the first few vignettes of The Arab, The Jew And The Chicken, you wonder how well the cultural and political conflicts of the Middle East will be served by theatre collective Conflict Relief, since this is an occasionally inaccessible show that takes a little while to warm up.

But a cleverly played, ultimately silly extended piece in which an Israeli and a Palestinian delegate end up flirting with each other during negotiations at the UN is the turning point, after which the sprightly ideas come thicker and faster.

Travel agent Mohammed Cook, based on the south Lebanon border, offers 'no surprise packages'; the region's wannabe singers are rolling up for TV talent contest Land Factor (guess the prize...) and, preceding a reference to the Gaza Strip, a chatty duo struggle to solve Britney Spears's problems, cannily lamenting that 'she doesn't know where to draw the line'.

It's informed stuff from this ensemble of Arab, Israeli and British-born Jewish and Muslim performers, who all do justice to their skilful acting and physical theatre credentials (if not their editing ones - the lively finale, complete with chicken, should have come 15 minutes sooner).

If you are yet to explore the Hoxton outpost of the Courtyard Theatre, this is an enjoyable excuse to do so.

Until Mar 30, The Courtyard Theatre, Bowling Green Walk, 40 Pitfield Street N1, Tue to Sun 8pm, £12, £9 concs. Tel: 0870 163 0717. Tube: Old Street

The Arab, The Jew And The Chicken
The Courtyard Theatre