Ear for Eye

by debbie tucker green

"Marchin' days is over man." Patience is running out, times have changed. And progress isn't enough. Black British. African American. Here. There. Now.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama

141 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2019

Reviews

[Rea Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very powerful play, especially reading during this movement. Beautifully written and highlights the issues in both UK and US on race and how racism is still something that happens day to day for people in the black community. This play made me feel uncomfortable but I am aware that I need to feel that uncomfortable-ness in order to truly change. I felt heartbroken by these stories in this play but IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT READ CAUSE THESE VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD. Truly taken aback by Debbie's writing!

[Amy GB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fucking genius. Nuanced dialogue that is both rhythmic and naturalistic. Full of rage and sympathy. A bit hard to take, as befits its purpose: it's black Americans and Britons expressing their experiences of and responses to systemic racism. Part Two especially gripped me so much I nearly missed my train station.

[Carolin Kopplin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relevant and timely play.

[Hilda Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is heartbreaking play. I liked how the playwright shows the racism of both the U.S and the U.K., and how it intertwines with other social issues as misogyny. By the end of it I could only think "go on".

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve got out of the way of reading plays. To be honest, I’d gotten out of the way of reading in general these past couple of months. The anxiety of this year and what it meant for the creative industries had drained me of my connection to the arts. Few things could hold my attention or draw me in as they had done before. The skies are beginning to feel a little less cloudy for me now and I am glad that the first play I read post-creative slump was this gem from debbie tucker green. green is a master of language, transforming internal rhythms into dialogue and examining the grey areas and the juxtapositions of our world with incredible precision. This was a powerful and invigorating read, and still painfully relevant. It is one of those plays I long to see brought to life on stage by actors - I’m gutted I missed its original run at the Royal Court.

[Charlie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great play, very relevant to our current times. While it might not be as great as Random or Nut, which are my favourite dtg plays, it is an incredibly precise account of racism in the US and UK. dtg's poetic use of Caribbean patois is always a joy to read, but I really wish I could watch more of her stuff live. I watched a production of Random at Leeds Playhouse and it was much better on the stage than on the page.

'but if it was me not comin outta no cell -
Or comin outta some cell wrong, fuck me,
I'd want more' n day trippers waving a flag
And chanting some collective shit of
Shallowness, or hash tagging some bullshit
Of outrage that is forgot the next
Post-of-fuckery.
I'd want somethin more'n that.
A bit more'n that.
If it was me.'

[Kahmal Sealey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings.

Overall, the topics and situations covered were spot on: Racism, having to comply in every which way possible to the police (that still ends up being not enough), the idea of marching vs the effect it has, it all really resonated.

However like a few plays I’ve read, I fear this may be a case of coking across better when watching, rather than reading. There were a range of overlaps and thought continuations after the overlap that felt sloppy/confusing to me.

I felt like it made sense to have a few core characters and flit between them, but I can’t truly comment on my opinion of this play less I judge it wrongly because it was messy on paper when it could well fly onstage

[Misbah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie Tucker green has done it again. Superimposing scenes of racial violence in America and the UK to show a larger global race problem and prevent racial readings which seek to isolate histories of racial violence to either or. She also considers racial trauma, histories of racial violence, and the role of the perpetrator. The play questions whether non violent protests and reactions to discrimination are enough as racism is still ongoing.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this can be confusing and messy, if I’m being honest. And that’s okay! But if you’re studying this for a class and you’re not able to watch the play, a lot gets lost including understanding and enjoyment. I wouldn’t teach this or read this unless it was guaranteed that we had a pro-recording of the play.

[Hagar Mohamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

that last scene about the Jim Crow Laws and slave codes was like a punch to the gut... how could anyone find peace in supporting such atrocities?
Nothing could ever redeem such inhumanity.
I read it for my Ethnic Minorities course and honestly, it made the whole topic feel more real than anything I’ve studied before.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant use of repetition to drive home the damned if you do damned if you don't fucked-ness of being Black in US and UK, steeped in deeply rooted anti-black racism. Formally daring, shines in acts 1 + 3 especially.

[Joel Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

tucker green is so incredibly talented at making your blood boil and also continually get you to doubt which person in the scene you are meant to align with.

(Watched this in 2021 but can now officially say I've read all her plays (so far - I'm begging her to write more soon))

[ang! · Rating 5 out of 5]

heartbreakingly beautiful

[Lilli]

last play i have to read for my theatre seminar this semester :(

[Yangki Sherpa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Working with this for school and it’s a very good play with interesting artistic choices but confusing to read as so much of it needs to be spoken to be fully
Impactful

[Mancy]

dnf 38%

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

everyone should read/see

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was very useful tool/ example for looking into the use of transitive verbs in stage directions and the way you can add action to your dialogue.

[AinaBN · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very incisive and potent commentary on police brutality and systemic racism.

[John Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to produce this play

[DK · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're working with this playtext in school. Really interestingly written and damn powerful. At times confusing, but it's worth reading.