Small Island traces the tangled history between Jamaica and the UK around the time of the Second World War. Based on the prize-winning epic novel by Andrea Levy, hope and humanity meet stubborn reality in three intricately connected stories. Hortense yearns for a new life away from rural Jamaica, Gilbert dreams of becoming a lawyer, and Queenie longs to escape her Lincolnshire roots.
This dazzling 5-star production was filmed live during its sold-out run in 2019 and features a company of 40 actors. As part of depicting the experience of Jamaican immigrants to Britain after the Second World War, at times characters in the play use language which is racially offensive. Brought to you by National Theatre at Home with description provided by our esteemed colleagues at VocalEyes UK.
Join host Amy Amantea in the VocalEye virtual lobby at 6:30 pm (PT) for some pre-show mingling. Introductory descriptive notes begin at 6:45 pm and the performance begins at 7 pm. Running time is just under 3 hours plus a 15-minute intermission. Hang out after the show and be entered to win a $25 gift card to Moose’s Down Under where you can enjoy a real live beer!
Register for your VocalEye Zoom invitation by contacting info@vocaleye.ca or call 604-364-5949. Please let us know where you’re from and if you identify as blind, partially sighted or sighted. This one-time registration will give you access to all upcoming Virtual VocalEye events.
“An absolute masterpiece of an adaptation, deserving of all the accolades bestowed upon it.” –The Upcoming
“This show was deeply relevant during its original run last year, hot on the heels of the Windrush scandal. Now it’s so of-the-moment it takes your breath away.” –The Arts Desk
An estimated 500,000 people now living in the UK who arrived between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries have been called the Windrush generation, a reference to a ship that brought workers to the UK in 1948. Read more about the recent Windrush Scandal
ADDITIONAL LINKS AND RESOURCES
Meet the composer and learn more about the music created for Small Island (video)
The Small Island Cast Visit the Black Cultural Archives (video)
HMS Empire Windrush passenger, 93 year old Al Gardner visits rehearsal (video)
From Slavery to Windrush, BBC documentary (video)
I’m Part of Windrush and Returning to Jamaica After 50 Years (video)
Andrea Levy talks about her book, Small Island (video)
Small Island audiobook (narrated by the author Andrea Levy) on audible.ca (free with 30 day trial)
Watch Parties are part of VocalEye’s new virtual community outreach initiative during the Covid-19 pandemic. As with any inaugural program, we depend on your participation and feedback to help us grow and improve. We’re here to make live arts events more accessible, even if they’re recorded, and to stay connected, even if we’re at a distance. Thank you for holding the space with us until we can gather together again at the theatre.
