Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Small Island: Epic Windrush story comes of age

by SHAILESH SOLANKI

ANDREA LEVY’S seminal novel chronicling the experiences of first-generation Jamaican immigrants comes to life in this powerful adaptation by Helen Edmundson at the National Theatre.


Small Island is a rollercoaster of a play, a tinderbox of high energy grappling with the emotive and highly charged themes of hope, love and racial identity.

Edmundson’s three-hour-long adaptation revolves around two strong-willed and indomitable female characters whose lives are entwined across the islands of Jamaica and Britain.

We first meet Hortense (Leah Harvey), a pale-skinned, prim school teacher in the middle of a hurricane in 1940’s Jamaica. When her unrequited love for her cousin Michael seems to end with the outbreak of the Second World War, she takes up with the happy-go-lucky Gilbert, played with gusto and panache by Gershwyn Eustache Jnr. They share a deep desire to emigrate to England, a land offering a golden future to all its citizens.

“Hinglaand is the future,” says Gilbert in a deep Jamaican accent.

Aisling Loftus’s Queenie, meanwhile, is a kind-hearted country girl desperate to escape her humdrum life on her father’s Lincolnshire farm. She comes to London to work for her aunt in a confectioner’s shop where she meets and marries the dull and emotionally repressed Bernard.

The ravages of war bring the characters together. Michael and Gilbert both enlist in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and become lodgers (at different times) in Queenie’s large house in Earl’s Court, much to the dismay of her husband and neighbours, who accuse her of harbouring “coons”.

When Hortense joins Gilbert for her “golden life” in England, the betrayal of the mother country begins to unravel, from her drab living quarters – the all-in-one kitchen, bedroom and dining room with no toilet – to the stark racism of Britain’s streets, where she’s called a “darkie” within a day of arriving.

Gilbert, who harbours ambitions of becoming a lawyer, has to confront the everyday blue-collar bigotry of the postal service, where he’s constantly asked, “When you going back to the jungle?”

Levy’s novel is sweeping in its scope, tracing the roots of the Windrush generation and examining the pre-war circumstances which brought them to Britain.Director Rufus Norris stays true to her work as the play hurtles back and forth into the story of the main characters.

Katrina Lindsay’s set uses the vast Olivier stage to great effect, capturing the havoc of the hurricane and the destruction of the war to the disconsolate life of post war London with seamless ease.

Its unvarnished portrayal of the racial tensions in post-war Britain is brutal, emotive and tearful in equal measure. The promise and betrayal of first-generation immigrants is handled with sensitivity yet reveals the bare-knuckled reality of the vicious racism steeped in every aspect of British life, a country where “darkies should cross the street” when they see a white woman and where rooms for rent “are closed to black boys”.

Edmundson grasps these issues with verve and humour. When Gilbert is given a pie by Queenie for his troubles, he says: “That’s the first thing I ate in England which does not taste like it’s been eaten before. The English boil everything.”

But it’s the stoicism and single-minded determination with which the characters handle both their changed circumstances and racism that shine through in this brilliantly evocative adaptation.

Rating:

Small Island is running at the National Theatre until August 10. The play will be broadcast by NT Live on June 27.

More For You

Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor

Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor urges Bollywood to move beyond its obsession with superstars and focus on strong storytelling

"Bollywood is stuck in the 1980s": Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor slams industry’s obsession with stars & big-budget flops

Bollywood has been grappling with an identity crisis, with many questioning whether the industry's golden era is over. A recent social media debate reignited the discussion, claiming that the industry is in decline due to the absence or sporadic appearances of major stars like Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan. Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor, actor and son of Anil Kapoor, responded with a sharp critique of Bollywood’s over-reliance on big-budget, star-driven films, arguing that it is time for a shift toward strong storytelling.

A user on X posted, "Bollywood is finished. Salman doesn’t want to act, Aamir has no films, Akshay has a dozen films but none that matter, SRK does a film every two years, and Ajay is playing it safe. Ranbir Kapoor seems like the only one carrying the industry forward."

Keep ReadingShow less
Val Kilmer

Hollywood mourns the loss of legendary actor Val Kilmer

Getty Images

Val Kilmer, Hollywood icon and 'Top Gun' star, dies at 65 after years of health struggles

Val Kilmer, the celebrated actor known for his roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever, and The Doors, has passed away at the age of 65. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed that he died of pneumonia on April 1 in Los Angeles. Though he had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, he had since recovered, though the illness had a significant impact on his voice and career.

Kilmer was a versatile performer who made his mark in Hollywood with a mix of blockbuster hits and critically acclaimed roles. Born in Los Angeles in 1959, Kilmer’s passion for acting led him to the prestigious Juilliard School, where he became one of its youngest-ever students. His career began with comedic roles in Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985), but he soon transitioned to more intense characters, firming his reputation as a serious actor. His performances in Tombstone (1993) as Doc Holliday and Heat (1995) alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro further showcased his talent and range.

Keep ReadingShow less
Saif Ali Khan’s ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins’ Poster Unveiled

Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and the ensemble cast shine in the poster of Jewel Thief: The Heist

Instagram/netflix_in

Saif Ali Khan’s latest Netflix film ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins’ drops an intriguing new poster

Netflix released a new poster for Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, and it’s already got fans talking. The image shows Saif Ali Khan with a sharp, focused gaze, his eye cleverly framed by the silhouette of a diamond, hinting at the high-stakes heist at the heart of the film.

Slated for release on April 25, the movie follows a skilled thief hired by a crime boss to steal the legendary African Red Sun diamond. But as expected, things don’t go as planned. The teaser, dropped earlier this year, showed us a tense partnership between Saif and Jaideep Ahlawat, with twists, betrayals, and plenty of action in store.

Keep ReadingShow less
Empuraan Storm: Success, Censorship Debate & Political Attacks

Prithviraj Sukumaran and Mohanlal at a press meet for L2: Empuraan

Instagram/empuraanmovie

L2: Empuraan - A film that shattered records and sparked a political storm

Few films manage to be both a record-breaking success and a lightning rod for controversy at the same time. But L2: Empuraan, the much-hyped sequel to Lucifer, has done exactly that. The Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial, starring Mohanlal, has not only rewritten and shattered box office history but also sparked a nationwide debate on censorship, political narratives, and artistic freedom.

On one hand, it’s the fastest Malayalam film to gross £5.1 million (₹50 crore) in Kerala, the first Malayalam film to cross £10.2 million (₹100 crore) overseas, and a £20.4 million (₹200 crore) club entrant within just five days. On the other hand, it has been accused of pushing a political agenda, leading to 2m 8s, 24 last-minute cuts, a legal battle, and a full-blown culture war.

Keep ReadingShow less