Journey from the sun-drenched shores of Jamaica to the cold, grey streets of 1940s London in Small Island, a powerful and intimate portrayal of Andrea Levy’s multi award-winning novel, adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson.

Directed by Matthew Xia, this bold staging offers a fresh perspective on a world shaped by empire and entitlement, caught between belonging and unbelonging, disappointment and hope.

Four unforgettable characters bring this Windrush story to life: Hortense and Gilbert, determined Jamaican migrants in search of belonging and respect; Queenie, an Englishwoman who defies convention; and Bernard, her husband, struggling with change. Together, they discover love across culture, colour and class – and the fragile hope of a shared future.

Spanning decades and continents, this brand-new production draws on the joyful rhythms of calypso and the harsh realities of postwar Britain to explore the emotional truth of our collective history, brought vividly to life through music, striking visuals and a compelling story you will never forget.

Cast

Mara Allen
Miss Ma & Celia Mara Allen
Mark Arends
Bernard Mark Arends
Bronté Barbé
Queenie Bronté Barbé
Rosemary Boyle
Mrs Ryder Rosemary Boyle
Anna Crichlow
Hortense Anna Crichlow
Paul Hawkyard
Arthur Paul Hawkyard
Zoe Lambert
Aunt Dorothy & Miss Todd Zoe Lambert
Jordan Laviniere
Little Michael Jordan Laviniere
Marcia Mantack
Miss Jewel Marcia Mantack
Rhys Stephenson
Michael Rhys Stephenson
Andre Squire
Elwood Andre Squire
Everal A Walsh
Kenneth & Mr Philip Everal A Walsh
Daniel Ward
Gilbert Daniel Ward
Toby Webster
Kip & Young Man in Sweetshop Toby Webster
Phil Yarrow
Mr Buxton, Capt Soames & Sgt Thwaites Phil Yarrow

Creatives

Original writer Andrea Levy
Adaptor Helen Edmundson
Director Matthew Xia
Set & Costume Designer Simon Kenny
Lighting Designer Ciarán Cunningham
Movement & Intimacy Director Asha Jennings-Grant
Voice & Dialect Coach Hazel Holder
Fight Director Kev McCurdy
WHAM Designer & Supervisor Dominique Hamilton
Casting Director Lucy Casson
Composer Luke Bacchus
Music Mentor Ben Kwasi Burrell
Video Designer Gino Green

Schools and Groups

Groups

Groups of 10 or more can save up to 20% on full price tickets.

Discount will be automatically applied on the ‘Checkout’ screen. Book up to 20 tickets online with the groups discount, discounts vary per performance and are subject to availability. Group discounts can only be applied on tickets in Bands A and B.

See the list of discounted performances on the Group Discounts Page.

Have a large group looking to attend? Please email tickets@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk and a member of the team will be able to assist.

Schools

Show tickets for school pupils are £15 each (one teacher goes free with every 10 tickets purchased). Find out more about School Visits here and book by calling Box Office on 0115 941 9419.

Access

We provide British Sign Language Interpretation, Captions, Audio Description and a Touch Tour for this production.

Everyone is welcome to attend accessible performances, customers experience the full show including the accessible services.

Find out more about Access at Nottingham Playhouse here.

Sponsored by

Daltons