Review: THE BIG LIFE, Theatre Royal Stratford East

Mark Senior

It’s always a pleasure to return to Stratford East and the welcoming embrace of the 140 year old Theatre Royal auditorium, an ideal setting for The Big Life twenty years ago, and today. First seen in 2004, The Big Life is an intriguing mash-up of Love’s Labour’s Lost and the story of Windrush arrivals in the 1950s. Set to an infectious and exhilarating Ska score, the show, created by Paul Sirett, Tameka Empson and Paul Joseph, is an instant classic which comes up as fresh as before though with understandably expressed concern about more recent events.

Throughout the evening, co-creator Tameka Empson comments on the action – as she did twenty years ago – from a theatre box. This time round, she is able to bridge the divide between then and now, reminding us of how things have changed, and not always for the better. Along the way, she uses her considerable comedic skills to give a master class in drawing an audience in to the action; this character was very successful in the original, but the updating makes her vital to the effectiveness of the piece.

There are no weak links in this talented cast of triple threat performers, led by the four men who forswear women for three years, as in the Shakespeare text, and their spurned women. Nathanael Campbell, Khalid Daley, Karl Queensborough and Ashley Samuels create believeable and differing characters, with Daley’s dancing and Samuels’ singing a joy to behold, although all four are strong performers. Opposite them are Juliet Agnes, Gabrielle Brooks, Rachel John and Leanne Henlon, the four of them playing together beautifully and able to go from broad humour to wistful sadness in the blink of an eye. John, in particular, gives a detailed and heartfelt performance.

Gabriel Fleary’s Reverend is the source of much humour, and Beth Elliott effectively contributes some rounded and varying characters. Leading the action, alongside Tameka Empson’s Mrs Aphrodite, is Danny Bailey as Admiral (and Eros) who, like her, links the reality of the 1950s with bigger themes and issues, and does so with aplomb.

The show is also very, very funny, and it was enormously enjoyable to be part of an audience that were laughing so much and so often. Visually, this is an ambitious show, and the sets and costumes (Jasmine Swan) are distinctive and clever; as explained in the programme, the colours used vary according to character, plot and emotion. The programme, incidentally, is very informative and a reminder of why we must not lose this vital aspect of theatre-going.

The creative team led by director Tinuke Craig and choreographer Ingrid Mackinnon have created something quite remarkable in this production of The Big Life. It deserves to sell out at Stratford East and should certainly transfer as did the original. Musical theatre at its best, beautifully performed, at turns hilarious and thought-provoking, and a great night out.

***** Five Stars

Reviewed by Chris Abbott