Santi (Aiyana Bartlett & Naz (Farah Ashraf). Photo: Paul Blakemore

Santi & Naz at Soho Theatre is a teenage friendship story set against the backdrop of the run-up to Partition.

Santi (Aiyana Bartlett) is Sikh, loves books and has eyes for a young man in the village who may not be what she thinks he is. Naz (Farah Ashraf) is Muslin, less studious and bolder, but facing an unwelcome arranged marriage with a handsy man.

They are very close, tease each other and support each other. They have their own language and made-up games, but they are also on the path of discovery with new feelings to contend with, all while the outside world is starting to penetrate their innocent bubble.

Written by Guleraana Mir and afshan d'souza-lodhi, the script is textured in Indian culture and vividly transports you from a dark January evening in London.

Olivia Darnley, Mimî M Khayisa, Sifiso Mazibuko, Scott Sparrow in A Good House, Royal Court Theatre. Photo: Camilla Greenwell

Thought-provoking, challenging and funny in a play is a difficult combination to get right, but the production of Amy Jeptha's play A Good House at the Royal Court Theatre does just that.

Bonolo (Mimi M Khayisa) and Sihle (Sifiso Mazibuko) are relatively new to the neighbourhood of Stillwater when a mysterious shack appears on a vacant plot with no sign of its inhabitants.

The couple are befriended by their neighbours Lynette (Olivia Darnley) and Chris (Scott Sparrow) to be the face of a campaign to get it removed. Awkwardly polite negotiations about what they should do begin over mature brie and good vintage red wine.

Changing wall hangings, sofa positions and cushions represent the different living rooms in this smart, affluent enclave.

First, it is the homes of Banolo and Sihle and Lynette and Scott, but then we meet young couple Jess (Robyn Rainsford) and Andrew (Kai Luke Brummer), whose house looks out onto the shack.

Their gatherings to discuss what the shack means for the neighbourhood and what they should do expose assumptions, resentments and prejudices around race and social status - particularly when it comes to housing. It raises questions about fitting in, authenticity and how far you should go to assimilate.