The Godless War – The Bridge House Theatre, London

A captivating blend of mythic storytelling, poetic language, and raw theatrical energy, The Godless War is a one-man tour de force that explores the tragic allure of war through a compelling performance.

The Godless War

Let’s start today with another theatre discovery in South East London. For me at least – others have always known it was there. But this was my first time at the Bridge House Theatre in Penge. Right by Penge West Station on the Windrush Line, with a characterful pub underneath… check it out! Particularly while their Solo Season festival is on, of which today’s production forms a part.

But I’m not here to advertise local pub theatres. I’m here to talk about The Godless War. At first, it seemed the gods were conspiring against me attending. I missed a run earlier in the year, and I almost couldn’t make this one either. But I did, and now I can urge you to catch this wonderful bit of theatrical storytelling – either tonight at the Bridge House Theatre or in July at the Bread & Roses Theatre. Take your pick.

And pick one you must. The Godless War is a work of theatrical storytelling, and long-time readers know that the Salterton Arts Review has a deep love of storytelling. I think it speaks to something primal in us: gathering around and listening as someone weaves worlds using words. This is not only a talent Arif Silverman (who writes and performs) seems to embody, but which he also puts at the forefront of the story itself.

The Godless War isn’t set in a named country or a specific time. But it’s broadly South Asian in terms of names and descriptions, and the time is the past. Or maybe the future: never rule out a post-apocalyptic setting. The storytelling combines elements of Ancient Greece and Shakespeare. Ancient Greece in its Homeric qualities—heroes, gods, lovers, and their fates. Shakespeare in its use of iambic pentameter, with a good feel for when to use a rhyming couplet to underscore a point.

The Power of Myth, Poetry and Performance

Silverman, then, creates a world from these elements. It’s a world in which a young boy can find himself inspired by poetry but drawn into war. Not so different from our own, then.

It’s a prodigious feat of memory to perform this as a monologue – around 70 minutes, with energetic choreography to boot. The direction, by Kazeem Akinsanya and Neha Hemachandra, is confident and tight. There is variation in tone and pace, but the production’s energy is a constant. As is Silverman’s charismatic delivery. Charismatic, and confident, too. Like the storytelling traditions he draws on, the magic is in holding us in his hand as an audience. We need to enter into the worlds he’s drawing, to feel he’s speaking to us directly. Akinsanya and Hemachandra’s direction and Silverman’s direct delivery, with plenty of eye contact, achieve this. Costume design by Alyssa Poon and Lighting Design by Aaron Molloy reinforce the spell.

Ultimately, this is a work about the futility of war: the petty differences we fight over while believing we are justified and sanctified in our struggles. And again, this theme has rather a Homeric vibe about it. Like the Mycenaeans who waste a decade on the Trojan War, there’s a respect for individual skill and bravery and a simultaneous lamentation for the waste of life and youth. The text doesn’t offer a way out, though – if anything, a projected naming of all the wars humans have fought makes it seem inevitable.

If there’s a criticism to be made, it’s that the density of the language, while beautiful, can be demanding. The poetic form adds richness but also requires the audience’s full attention, and there are moments where the sheer weight of the text risks overwhelming the storytelling. But this is a minor quibble in the face of such a powerful performance.

Ultimately, The Godless War is a masterclass in theatrical storytelling: lyrical, intense, and deeply moving. Silverman’s writing and performance fuse seamlessly, creating an experience that lingers long after the final words are spoken. For anyone who appreciates the power of myth, poetry, and performance, this is not a play to miss.

Salterton Arts Review’s rating: 4/5

The Godless War on until 21 March only at the Bridge House Theatre. Or check out July dates at the Bread & Roses Theatre here.