Watching a premiere is an exciting privilege, and Nathan Powell’s scouse adaptation of what once was a Brixton-based story intrigued me, but I questioned if it would be believable. There aren’t as many Caribbean restaurants in Toxteth compared to Greater London, for a start.
But immediately, from the music to the warm hues of the Hylton restaurant set, the world invited us in with warm arms. The characters, Phina Oruche’s Carol and Wayne Rollins’ chef giving it the swagger and tenacity the drama needed from the go to dash any doubts about the story.
Keeping an entire play in one location is a challenge, but I did not miss a change of scenery as the fresh witty banter, freedom of movement in the space and comic timing, kept eyes from wandering. Moreover, the performances were mostly fully fleshed out, a part from a few moments where pace could have been picked up.
A whole lot of spirit is served in this play. Each theme from family, to money, to place, or race, the complexities of relationships are fleshed out but not in a stereotypical way, which was refreshing. Bill Caple’s confident Richard was nowhere near out of place, and I liked that.
Even though first assumptions may have questioned the scouse placing of this production, by the end of Act One it felt right at home. The play is bigger than Liverpool and it is conscious of that.
At times, stage movement felt a tad rehearsed and dialogue at times dragged. This play needs lightness to overshadow the consistently heavy events and themes, so when the characters have a moment of joy, they need to learn from Wayne Rollins and lose all inhibitions. That’s when this play was at its best.
When achieved, the freedom and fluidity of parts of this performance was as delicious as the food sounded. There needed to be a better balance of light and shade in some delivery, to prevent certain moments from seeming self-important or overly Romanticised. Especially in the second act.
That said, I enjoyed watching the scouse premier of Takeaway. The Caribbean aspect of the story is marginal to what it stands for, same too for Toxteth. It is a production for the local, independent and honest people on the outskirts of all our ever-expanding cities, and whatever communities and races that call them home.
Reviewer: Hannah Esnouf
Reviewed: 30th April 2025
North West End UK Rating: