It’s Irie’s (Riah Amelle) first day as a police officer and she’s filled with excitement at the thought of making a difference. But her arrival is met with cynicism from her colleagues Christine (Emily Hunter) and Toni (Gemma Green), who exchange bets on how long she’ll last. Throughout the play, we follow Irie as she navigates the realities of being a black, female police officer in London. One particularly harrowing moment sees her and Christine interviewing a victim of sexual assault with Irie’s face crumbling as she listens to Christine question the victim’s clothing, drinking habits and other insidious, familiar tropes women have long been told are to blame for attracting ‘unwanted’ attention.

As the story goes on, the extent of the misogyny and racism embedded within the force becomes painfully clear. Toni refers to Irie as ‘your kind,’ accusing her of stealing during a cash seizure as she participates in toxic WhatsApp group chats that perpetuates a culture where sexism is the norm. Riah Amelle is brilliant as Irie, giving a devastating, touching performance that captures the erosion of her confidence and trust in a system and career that she once believed in. Her eyes fill with tears at multiple points and I could see fellow audience members who were visibly moved. 

It’s a really tough watch as we witness her endure endless microaggressions, sexist comments and racial discrimination and I wondered if there could be scope for more nuance in the storytelling. At times, the issues are delivered so rapidly with facts and figures being communicated to us, that we lose the opportunity to delve deeper into the personal histories, influences and motivations of the characters. The pacing keeps the narrative alive, but I was left wanting more time with each character and more space to unpack them fully. Also, the ending delivers a clear and powerful message, but I can’t help think that bringing out supporting characters earlier (small spoiler here, apols) who appear later in the show, could help magnify the narrative and political impact further, therefore strengthening the call to action for the audience even more.

ENOUGH propels us to take a long look at the dismaying, discriminatory, oppressive reality of the Met. With strong performances and messaging, it isn’t an easy watch, but it is a crucial one. 

Go see it til 8^th August at theSpace on the Mile. Tickets available here.