PLAY ON
Lyric Hammersmith and UK Tour
til Feb 2025

Talawa, the UK’s outstanding Black British Theatre Company, are bringing their jazz-fuelled musical, Play On! to the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in January. This contemporary retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night brings New York’s 1940s jazz scene to life and is the highlight of Talawa’s Black Joy season. This highly-anticipated London run will mark the end of their a successful tour premiering this major musical in the UK, which previously received 3 Tony nominations.

Review by Richard Lambert, 5 Stars

This wonderfully high energy fun musical is based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. “Very loosely based” has to be the tagline here. The story is not the show’s strongest point however there is plenty more to enjoy in this production.

At the rear of the stage are 5 large light box panels that show wonderful bands of colour similar to an old fashioned cyc with ground rows and top row battens. In front of them on rostra is a live 5 piece band. This entire section tracks downstage to bring it into the main performance space – once in each half of the show.

The ensemble are in black costumes channeling “Chicago” chique. The principal performers have outstanding vocals. Both Tsemaye Bob-Egbe and Kori (Koko) Hedgemon deliver show-stopping performances with unforgettable songs.

The music, by Duke Ellington, has many well-known tunes and the jazz style is picked up and delivered street dance by the incredibly talented choreographer, Kenrick H2O Sandy MBE. The songs, the dance and the cast elevate the production.

The set is a wooden false proscenium to form the Cotton Club where they all meet. Downstage trucks are the bar and dressing room area. Off stage left is the ensemble dressing room – occasionally lit to see the cast gathering for their numbers. It’s all very classy.

The lighting is the element of the show that is truly outstanding. With a mix of old fashioned lanterns – fresnels, floods, strip battens – and a handful of carefully selected moving lights – the lighting is just stunning! The colour palette combinations to die for and the patterns formed in the haze making wonderful shapes that frame and highlight the diva singers. The energetic dance sections are enhanced by more punchy looks and the scenes that are more natural are sensitively lit with zoned washes allowing facial expressions to read. If you want to see lighting perfection, Johanna Town‘s the one to show you.

PLAY ON is a fast paced production with an energetic highly talented cast. Catch it at the Lyric Hammersmith while you can!

Photo credit: Ciara Hillyer

The cast features Tsemaye Bob-Egbe (SIX and TINA, West End); Kori (Koko) Hedgemon; Earl Gregory (TINA, West End); Llewellyn Jamal (Get Up, Stand Up!and TINA, West End); Cameron Bernard Jones (Ain’t Too Proud, West End); Lifford Shillingford (Britain’s Got Talent); Tanya Edwards (Sister Act) and Gleanne Purcell-Brown (Oscar-nominated Living). 

Conceived by Sheldon Epps
Book by Cherytl L. West
Music by Duke Ellington
Director Michael Buffong
Musical Supervisor and Arranger Liam Goodwin
Musical Director Ashton Moore
Choreographer Kenrick H2O Sandy MBE
Production Design ULTZ
Lighting Designer Johanna Town
Sound Designer Tony Gayle
Production Manager Christian Bawtree
Casting Director Pearson Casting CDG
Press Chloe Nelkin Consulting