Where There Is No Time Review
Where There Is No Time marks the debut full‑length play from 26‑year‑old actor, writer and producer Mohammedally Hashemi, who also takes on the lead role. Set in a Mayfair atelier in 2025, the play positions itself as a visceral look at the cost of ambition in the modern fashion world. Its focus is Yusuf, a British Iranian‑Yemeni designer preparing a career‑defining autumn collection while navigating the competing demands of heritage, commerce and creative control.
The central conflict is clear: Suzann, the entrepreneur who rescued the brand from bankruptcy, pushes for commercial viability, while Yusuf’s best friend and model Nina tries to protect the integrity of his work. The play asks what we are willing to compromise in the pursuit of success, but the exploration often feels surface‑level.
Yusuf speaks about his designs being rooted in his Yemeni‑Iranian identity and the memory of his late mother, yet the script never fully delves into this. The Dress of Faith—his mother’s creation and the heart of his inspiration—remains on its mannequin throughout, a choice that leaves the arc feeling unresolved.
The plot follows a clear trajectory, and the characters never quite deepen beyond their roles for the more vulnerable moments to resonate. The dialogue tends to follow the logic of each character’s position within the conflict, which makes several scenes easy to anticipate As a result, the emotional stakes stay relatively flat. A single moment of raised voice and profanity drew gasps from some audience members, one of the few points where the room noticeably reacted.
The main setting is Yusuf’s workshop: a desk, sketches pinned to the walls, and a rack of garments. The designs themselves draw the eye, even when the narrative loses momentum. Late in the piece, the rugs and chairs are rearranged, but the shift feels unnecessary given the scene that follows. Every scene break arrives with a burst of pumping music, which pulled me out of the narrative. At just 60 minutes with no intermission, the play moves briskly but ends abruptly.
Hashemi leads the cast as Yusuf, joined by Kerrna Jagpal as Nina and Milly Zero as Suzann. The production is directed by Hamza Ali, with dramaturgy by Alessandro Babala. Executive producer Tahj Dinero Miles and co‑producer Sheyi Cole round out the creative team.
Where There Is No Time would benefit from digging deeper into the cultural and emotional foundations it gestures toward.
Performing 17-28 March at 7:30pm. Tickets from £24.
Address: Seven Dials Playhouse, 1A Tower St, London WC2H 9NP
Website: https://www.sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk/shows
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevendialsplayhouse
Written by Caitlin Neal
