Review: August in England, Bush Theatre *****

Lenny Henry August in England Bush Theatre

Lenny Henry’s self-penned play is a witty, moving and hugely important in this year of the Windrush 75th anniversary staged at the Bush Theatre for six weeks only.

That elderly Caribbean residents of the UK who had lived here since their childhoods had to suddenly prove their right to be here was justifiably a scandal. Henry’s play makes the audience feel the pain of this scandal as if it was their own dad, or granddad, or friend in this appalling situation.

Henry’s character, August, is not perfect and neither are his family and this makes them real. You should not have to be a saint to expect fair treatment from the country you call home. The family scenes throughout the play are totally plausible and met by the audience with warmth and affection.

It is easy to forget one is watching a one-man-play as Henry so readily breathes life into all the characters as he weaves the story of August’s everyman life. Music, photos and anecdotes are used judiciously.

The ending of the play, cutting from the fable we have watched, to real life testimony of Windrush victims is like a punch to the stomach. Their words have haunted me since, as they should. I only wish the government perpetrators of the scandal could be made to watch the play.

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