There’s a riot going on from the start in Apphia Campbell’s dynamic dissection of parallel times, from the 1960s and 70s civil-rights movement to the dawn of Black Lives Matter. These are seen through the eyes of Black Panther on-the-run Assata Shakur in those earlier times, and a female student Ambrosia who is starting college 40 years later. Both women find themselves caught in the state-sanctioned crossfire of civil unrest. With Assata on the frontline from the start, Ambrosia’s rude awakening comes by way of the same forces that closed ranks following that fatal shooting of black teenager Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014.

Assata and Ambrosia are brought to life with a sense of righteous anger in Caitlin Skinner’s production, with Campbell herself as Assata and Tinashe Warikandwa as Ambrosia. The play’s dramatic fusion of words, music and recorded voices shows how history can repeat itself while laying down a gauntlet for change. Both Campbell and Warikandwa perform with a determined and controlled commitment that reflects their characters, with a ferocious urgency which points the way for future generations to resist and rise up. 

Through The Mud, Summerhall, until 25 August, 5.55pm; main picture: Stuart Armitt.