Whirlwind Revolution

Marking 100 years since the Persian Constitutional Revolution, which did away with the last Qajar Shah, Anglo-Iranian theatre company 30 Bird Productions presents a potted version of the events that set a political precedent in the Middle East.

Director and playwright Mehrdad Seyf takes a satirical standpoint as he depicts the revolution from 1906 to 1911, giving voice to a seemingly endless array of views including the revolutionaries, the Shahs of Iran, Christian missionaries and the British monarchy.

Though the story is a linear account of events, the five-strong cast jump from character to character as they take on the personae of the various factions, creating a whirlwind portrayal of the social and political climate of the time.

All decked out in identical purple suits, the actors work cohesively, though the constant change is at first a little bewildering and they seem to amble aimlessly around Leslie Travers's largely ineffectual set.

The play swings from serious to light-hearted in quick succession, with Erin Brodie's dark portrayal of the tyrannical, misogynistic Shah contrasting sharply with the inexplicably included yet wildly amusing re-enactments of Tintin in Destination Moon - you suspect Seyf is trying to make the heavy history lesson easier to digest.

He's on the right lines, as the humour is a welcome relief after being thrown in the deep end of a complex story of revolution. Despite the weighty education, The Persian Revolution is a timely play that still feels contemporary in its issues and, once you become accustomed to the playwright's riotous style and surreal sense of humour, it's a fairly enjoyable romp through history.

Until Oct 14, Lyric Hammersmith, King Street W6, Mon to Sat 8pm, £12, £7 concs. (0870 050 0511). www.lyric.co.uk

The Persian Revolution
Lyric Studio
King Street, W6 0QL