Review: Application 39 at Aviva Studios is timely, sharp and doesn’t shy away from the harsh reality of genocide

Last updated 4 days ago Theatre Bookmark Share X Share Chat Application 39 took to the stage at Manchester’s Aviva Studios for a thought-provoking, moving night at the theatre.

The powerful satire depicts Gaza in the year 2048, as two IT workers work to stage the 39th Olympics.

The play flickers through time, displaying terror and violence in the city, depicting a tragic and harrowing past for Gaza. The same war and suffering seen in the news today.

Seeking to ignite hope in a climate that feels never-ending, Application 39 is a gripping mix of dark comedy and astute socio-political observations.

The small company is composed of four actors, who all multi-role, but maintain one fixed part in the narrative.

Including James El-Sharawy and Samoa Rantisi as Rayyan and Selma, the childhood friends responsible for the Olympic submission.

James El-Sharawy has a particular strength for the comedic elements, offering fantastic deliveries throughout the show.

Balancing this pair is Nadia Dawber as Lana, the firm Vice Principal who understands the immense pressure, and attention Gaza hosting the Olympics will bring to them.

As well as Chants Wael portraying The President, in an archetype that’s closer to the fool than any competent individual.

But the writing of the play holds vital importance, too. What seemed like a dystopian short story, quickly escalated into the harsh reality now seen in Gaza.

The man behind the story? Ahmed Masoud. A Palestinian-British writer who first published Application 39 as a short story back in 2019. Published as part of a larger collection of stories, titled Palestine +100. Shockingly, he predicted that a genocide would occur in 2025.

And now, following his harrowing accuracy, he approached director Cressida Brown to help bring the story to life in a theatrical medium.

In a writer’s talk preceding the show, Masoud explained the genesis of the idea came from the unifying nature of sports and competition.

Discussing how laughter, as an initial response to the idea, became a further motivator to challenge people’s perspective by highlighting a culture and people with such a rich history.

Masoud himself has suffered profound personal and national loss. Meaning he was able to alchemise the pain of this tragedy into a piece that reminds us of the huge amount of suffering that continues to occur.

Forward facing without ignoring the past.

Masoud pushes the dystopian elements even further with highly militarised, AI-powered robots who patrol Gaza and its checkpoints.

But its inclusion, even in the near future doesn’t feel out of place or even that far-fetched. A clever illustration of the surreal degree of suffering that we’ve already become de-sensitised too.

The play also sheds light on real individuals, such as Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, a hostage who remains in Israeli detention, since December 2024 – further anchoring the drama with real experiences, that transcend the numbers and figures that have so easily replaced the sentiment of real lives.

One scene was performed in complete darkness.

With Ed Lewis’ standout sound design along with stellar performances by Rantisi and Sharawy convey tremendous terror that in its wake, is still only a fraction of the real and ongoing experiences.

Overall, Application 39 is a timely and sharp piece of theatre that doesn’t shy away from the harsh reality of violent occupation.

But underscores it’s truthful message with much needed hope. Although it played from 9-10 October at Aviva Studios, keep your eyes peeled on their tour dates. It’s a total must-see when you can.

Share Tweet Share Chat This article was last updated 4 days ago. It was first published on 12 October 2026 and is subject to be updated from time to time. Please refresh or return to see the latest version. Did we miss something? Let us know: [email protected]

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