Interview: Actors Durone Stokes, Nathaniel Morrison, & Angela Winter on new musical PLAYBOY IN THE WEST INDIES

Photo credit: Geraint Lewis

Based on the Irish classic The Playboy Of The Western World, Mustapha Matura’s hilarious reinvention Playboy Of The West Indies has been delighting audiences and critics alike world-wide for over 35 years. Now, the classic play has been transformed into a glorious new musical, playing at Birmingham Rep until 2 July.

Ahead of it’s official opening night this evening, we spoke to three cast members: Durone Stokes, Nathaniel Morrison and Angela Winter about the production.

If you were to sum up Playboy in the West Indies in a couple of sentences, how would you describe the show?

Durone: It’s a show that has a bit of everything. There are very sentimental romantic moments, coupled with comedy but also dangerous moments as well.

Nathaniel: It’s Mustapha Matura’s blessing to the world as far as I’m concerned. It is a show that has the best cultural representation of Trinidad and it’s a lively vibrant piece that takes you on a wonderful journey of drama, intrigue and mystery. It’s definitely a contender for Eastenders!

Angela: It’s basically a feel good Caribbean musical play where we’re bringing all things Caribbean to Birmingham. Following Covid, it’s really nice to lift people’s spirits and see them enjoying the music.

Tell us about your characters.

Durone: Ken is a guy who turns up at this small village, and nobody knows anything about him, but he comes with this sense of mystery and he’s got a story to tell. That draws everybody in the village in. 

Nathaniel: Pepe is a fisherman who is very fun loving, mischievous and characterful.

Angela: Mama’s a bit of a tyrant and a busy body who would like to take ownership of things that don’t necessarily belong to her. She puts herself on the front line when she’s not necessarily asked to be there and likes to get involved.

Do you relate to your characters?

Durone: I’d say so because he’s got the gift of the gab. When you get him going with the lyrics and poetry, he can draw anybody in - that’s his super power and I’d like to say that if anything, I have aspired to that. So I relate on an appreciation level even though I may not be quite so lyrical!

Nathaniel: He’s quite similar to me as a person actually because I am characterful. I don’t think I’m as energetic as Pepe. I’m a bit more relaxed, Pepe is sixty to hundred most days. I’m a strong forty, fifty!

How relatable would you say that the show is as a whole?

Durone: It’s very based in Caribbean culture but the themes of the show and the things that it deals with, I really feel that everybody can relate to it. It touches the heart.

Angela: It is relatable to any part of the world, to those of any age, gender, anything at all. The greatest part of the play is that you’re going to come and have fun, the music is nice and the story is very funny in part.

 What’s it like working with an all black cast?

Durone: It’s wonderful. Being in a cast where you know you all have the same heritage, you look at each other and you just get it without saying a word. The whole cast and crew though, irrespective of whether they are Black or not, there’s a sense of being here to protect one another.

Nathaniel: Its empowering. Personally, I've not had many opportunities to be part of Black casts or casts of colour so at this point in my career, with what we’ve all experienced, I feel very enriched to be among those who I would consider to be of my home. The conversation is very authentic and unique in its way and it’s very emancipating and important. It’s been a tonic for me thus far and you get to learn so much about yourself, both when you’re away from your culture and when you’re within your culture, and that’s something I can defiantly vouch for.

What do you want the audience to walk away with upon leaving the performance?

Durone: In my opinion, the takeaway is that no matter where we come from, no matter how much money we have or how little we have, we all have similarities and can all relate to each other on on a human level. I really think when people see it, they’ll come away with that sense.

Nathaniel: The takeaway is that love always wins.

Angela: The play wants people to accept who they are, be happy and content in their station.

Why should people come and see Playboy in the West Indies?

Nathaniel: They should come and see the show because we all need a bit of escapism at this time, right? It’s a wonderful journey and that’s something that we do take you on. The show has a wonderful arc to it, we’ve got some great characters that I know people are going to belly laugh at, and there’s a lot of drama so I think that it’s one not to miss.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.