Review: The EU killed my dad

It's not always easy to find a play text to engage your students. Do you go for something critically acclaimed but that looks at elements of the world that may be, because of the nature of your school setting, more inaccessible to your students? Or for something new, a contemporary play that reflects the experiences and concerns of your learners? Of course, you want it to be theatrical. And gripping. I'm delighted to tell you that The EU killed my dad ticks a lot of these boxes.

The plot revolves around Berker, who is looking for a reunion with his estranged Turkish father. However, on arrival, his sister Elif tells him that he has come too late and that his father had been shot only the day before. The play then develops into a time-slip piece where Berker tries to understand what has happened to his father and the range of forces that led to his death. The work is linked together by two Kafkaesque investigators who ask the questions the audience might feel they want answered. When the characters speak in Turkish, playwright Aaron Kilercioglu has specified that the audience hears the English version, allowing accessibility for all.