This charming revival of the adaptation of Trinidad author Sam Selvon's 1956 novel tells the story of a group of Windrush generation immigrants in London as they struggle with finding work and navigating personal relationships. It is a somewhat unorthodox piece and blends physical movement, music and monologues from each character, sometimes addressing characters offstage.
At the heart of the group is Moses (Solomon Israel), who is at the centre of the production as he tries to rally and mentor the others, who include Romario Simpson as Galahad, whose early swagger is soon reduced to self doubt.
The show is punctuated by movement and dance that impressionistically capture some of the conflicting emotions within the group.
The most effective dramatic device is the interactions with the white locals, each character speaking to the audience, behind them long-suffering wives and girlfriends, including the excellent Shannon Hayes as Agnes, sitting, often stony faced, on chairs. The fact that the locals are not represented and appear offstage reinforces the isolation—sometimes the titular loneliness—of the migrants.
I was slightly sceptical about the use of much later rock music including Britpop standards from the 1990s as the point being made was obscure. But there are some effective lighting cues suggesting both hedonism and violence with clever economy.
Overall, it feels like a slightly minor cousin of the masterpiece A Small Island but not to its detriment. This is a powerful and effective production.