Coming to England – The Lowry, Salford

Writer: Floella Benjamin

Adaptor: David Wood

Director: Denzel Westley-Sanderson

Ask any adult who grew up in the 80s who Floella Benjamin is, they will instantly recall Play School and seeing their enigmatic Trindadian-British TV presenter lighting up the screens with her co-stars Humpty, Jemima and Big & Little Ted. Ask any child currently in school and they will probably be more familiar with her autobiographical book Coming To England which charts how at the tender age of ten alongside 3 of her siblings she came to England to join her Father, Mother and two youngest siblings in England after they came to the country as part of the Windrush generation.

In this current production Benjamin’s book has been adapted for the stage by David Wood (who is no stranger to adapting children’s books for the stage) however, it must be said that its Wood’s rather straight and sanitised adaptation is the productions weakest element. Here Wood struggles to find a way to weave Benjamin’s text into anything other than clunky, direct address monologues – which considering its meant to be targeted at children, seem over long and so full of exposition, that it really affects the pace of the ensemble scenes which actually have some light and pace attached to them. Likewise, the adaption seems to struggle to put any weight/gravitas on the horrors faced by Benjamin and her family when in the country – instead scenes feel fleeting and heavily watered down. The production team may be shocked at just how much young people know and deal with on a daily basis.

That said, the cast do a strong job of bringing the piece alive on stage with real energy and vibrancy Julene Robinson as Floella is a delight and handles the material with grace and joy. Maryla Abraham as Marmie is a scene stealer throughout – her Act 2 solo song is nothing short of phenomenal. The Television framed set designed by Jasmine Swan helps set the scene, but it is heavily under-utilised in a clever way by director Denzel Westley-Sanderson who so often places his cast in lines at the front of the stage.

This is a show that is full of warmth and it is an important story to tell, its gentle but nothing really rocks the boat both in content or creativity – one would argue with a different creative team, Benjamin’s story could have an even bigger impact and not fall into the traps that this current team have had with adapting this book for the stage.

Runs until 9 February and continues on Tour