21 September – 14 October
In this collaboration with the UK’s leading British African heritage theatre company tiata fahodzi, the Bristol Old Vic have uncovered a gem.
Written by Nkenna Akunna, a winner of the Papatango new writing prize, and directed by acclaimed playwright and poet Chinonyerem Odimba it meets all the criteria set by Nancy Medina the new artistic director of BOV in being both bold and accessible.
cheeky little brown tells the story of a young black girl’s experience of, and resistance to, change following breaking up with her oldest and best friend. The brilliant Tiajna Amayo as Lady is a loud, larger than life, at times funny and at others angry young woman who turns up at the birthday party of her old friend who she hasn’t seen in ages. Placing a partly drunk bottle of wine on the table, she proceeds to eat through the contents of the party goodies while steeling herself to see her friend again.
Gemma was her sister-friend, but something happened six months ago. What follows is a failed night out culminating in secrets being exposed as Lady confronts the diverging paths that they have both taken.
This ninety-minute one woman show opens with large red balloons spelling out ‘Happy Birthday Gurrrl’ in Gemma’s new flat. Unfortunately, the flat also contains all of Gemma’s shiny new friends, including posh flatmate Jessie. Lady soon wants to ‘spark her out’ as do we, as she seeks to seize ownership of her erstwhile best friend.
Amayo is great at naturally expressing a range of emotions encompassing rejection, embarrassment and enraged bitterness as the party turns into a nightmare before we follow her dejected and somewhat drunken journey home back to Newington Green on a night bus.
This anti-romcom contains seven great new songs alongside a playlist of familiar tunes from Lady’s past. Amayo’s brilliant singing voice ensures each one adds to the narrative and fills in the dialogue from the silent Gemma. There is much humour including a love song to a doner kebab.
It’s about how you don’t have to be perfect if you are a young woman, and especially not if you are a young black queer woman trying to navigate your way around a second coming of age. Lady must work out how to stay true to herself in a future she didn’t choose.
The unfolding set featuring rearranged balloon words, sharply effective lighting and imaginative soundscape each help elevate this show from being a fringe event to great theatre.
Although a sad story, it is ultimately a joyously uplifting one and we enjoy being in Lady’s company, even though she might be a bit too much if we had to see her every day.
I missed the press night and when I attended there was a sparse but very enthusiastic audience, so would urge anyone interested in contemporary, imaginative, realistic theatre to get a ticket and support this show.
★★★★☆ Bryan J Mason 29 September 2023
Photo credit: Craig Fuller
