August in England – Bush Theatre

Lenny Henry captivates in this bittersweet tale about a man whose life is turned upside down by the Windrush scandal. It is surprising to find out that this is the first play he has written as the language and events flow sinuously and the script is imbued with a strong sense of August Henderson’s character with funny, quirky details.

August’s journey is an eclectic one from Kingston Jamaica to Calypso Crescent in an emphatically ghastly Peckham and then to West Brom. This no doubt reflects aspects of Henry’s own life and those he knows, having parents who emigrated to Britain from Jamaica and brought him up in Dudley.

The story begins with the family’s move and then cleverly branches into August’s life, starting a zealous band-cum-rebel group called Black Fist and later launching Iqbal and August’s slightly madcap Fruit and Veg emporium. August’s enterprise and love for life makes the blow from the Home Office letters hit even harder.

Henry swirls from scene to scene with excellent staging which enunciated August’s different impersonations, co-directed by Daniel Bailey and Lynette Linton. He masterfully juggles a plethora of accents, often switching seamlessly mid-sentence. Linton and Bailey’s attention to detail was noticeable as August’s Brummie accent reverted to a Jamaican one in certain fatherly and exclamatory moments.

Henry immediately conveys August’s sense of fun and charisma, building a rapport with the audience, seizing them in moments of suspense as well as joy. Even though the piece is dialogue heavy, being a one-man play, Henry conveys the nuances of the lingering, unspoken feelings. This is enhanced by Jai Morjaria’s stunning lighting design which ranged from a dreamy lilac to an accusatory red and particularly added to the climax. The lighting also had an effective relationship with Natalie Pryce’s set, as an originally warm-toned living room took on different hues. Snippets of authenticity in the photographs and Caribbean paraphernalia really brought the story to life.

The play finishes with interviews of real people impacted by the scandal. Henry’s play gives a voice to those impacted, those who are healing and those still fighting legal cases, all violated by an incompetent and cruel system. Not only is August in England a stark reminder of the cracks in our system but it is a celebration of life, and I am excited to see more of Lenny Henry’s mischievously funny and perceptive storytelling.

Showing until 10^th June

Reviewer: Riana Howarth

Reviewed: 5th May 2023

North West End UK Rating: