Back from a mini tour of Yorkshire and Stockport and cheering for supporting act Indignation Meeting
Something of a damp squib
A musical celebration of the Windrush generation failed to ignite, says PETER MASON
Riveting: Ayanna Witter-Johnson Pic: Mike-T
ALISTAR FINDLAY is mesmerised by this multiple ‘Visions of Scotland’ assault on the audience’s eyes and senses
The Star's critics ANGUS REID, ANDY HEDGECOCK and MICHAL BONCZA reviews I Am Love, The Penguin Lessons, Freaky Tales, The Thicket
MAYER WAKEFIELD has reservations about the direction of a play centered on a DVLA re-training session for three British-Pakistani motorists
New releases from Steve Knightley, Jupiter & Okwess, Jason Palmer, Lisa Knapp and Gerry Driver, Kin'Gongolo Kiniata, Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey, Dan Sealey, Simin Tande, PAZ
Peter Mitchell's photography reveals a poetic relationship with Leeds
A uncomfortably misogynistic authorial voice that sometimes seems to lack insight troubles FIONA O’CONNOR
Windrush: A Celebration
Barbican Hall, London
DESPITE a handful of high points, including cameos from king and queen of calypso Mighty Sparrow and Calypso Rose, mostly what we got at this Barbican celebration was an atmosphere of subdued and sometimes angry contemplation.
Many in the audience were clearly keen to cut loose and enjoy themselves but the pace and demeanour of the show rarely gave them that opportunity.
Partly this was due to the discordant, jazz-tinged nature of much of the material curated by British-Trinidadian poet Anthony Joseph, whose own words set to music were integrated into the evening’s entertainment.
More from this author
PETER MASON applauds a thought-provoking study of the relationship between a grieving woman and her photographer
PETER MASON is moved by a striking production of Noel Streatfeild’s enduringly popular children’s book
PETER MASON reckons the NYT’s production of Shakespeare’s comedy is the pick of the Christmas shows on offer in London
PETER MASON shivers in the under-heated ecclesiastical setting of a concert featuring five 19th-century French composers
