The Play
Written by Trinidadian playwright Errol John — whose Moon on a Rainbow Shawl had made a significant impact at the Royal Court the previous year — this musical work was developed in collaboration with Joan Littlewood and the Theatre Workshop company. It drew on documentary material gathered from the Notting Hill community in the aftermath of the 1958 riots, alongside fictional narrative.
The work was not a polished product in the Theatre Workshop manner: it was deliberately rough, with moments of improvisation and direct address. It challenged its Stratford East audience, many of whom had no direct experience of the Caribbean migrant community depicted, to reckon with the political texture of postwar Britain.
The Production
Directed by Littlewood with design by John Bury. A largely Caribbean cast was assembled, several members of whom had appeared together in BBC radio productions. The run was three weeks and played to good houses. A West End transfer was discussed but did not materialise.
Theatre Royal Stratford East
The Theatre Royal’s location in East London, its working-class audience base, and Littlewood’s commitment to popular and politically engaged theatre made it a natural home for this kind of work. The building dates to 1884 and is a Grade II* listed structure.