Let There Be Love
Thu 17 Jan 2008 – Sat 16 Feb 2008
by Kwame Kwei-Armah
“…comic and ultimately touching…splendidly performed” “Must See Theatre”
“cleverly defies expectations”
“a smart and possibly noble exploration of what it takes to be human and happy.” Evening Standard
“A keenly relevant and ultimately moving 21st-centry drama.”
“The production has warmth and spirit and features lovely performances from Joseph Marcell and Lydia Leonard.”
“Kwame Kwei-Armah…an author who is not only intelligent and incisive but humorous and warm-hearted…”
“[Maria]…is a wonderfully written part, brilliantly brought to life by Lydia Leonard…in a performance that radiates human warmth and even a bit of saintliness.”
“…the play moves beyond the cliché by deepening both characters and adding unexpected elements that take the play into fresh dramatic territory.”
“The backbone of the evening is the always admirable Joseph Marcell as Alfred.” London Theatre Guide
“…splendidly performed. Joseph Marcell’s eloquent Alfred offers a fine mixture of grumbling belligerence, sarky humour and unspoken feeling…”
“…Lydia Leonard…brings charm and humour to the role of Maria, proving that a character of uncomplicated goodness can also be dramatically interesting…”
“The excellent Sharon Duncan-Brewster…”
“…Kwei-Armah’s play has a touching generosity of spirit.” Daily Telegraph
An immigrant’s tale of beginnings, endings and Britishness set against the music of Nat King Cole.
When West Indian pensioner Alfred Morris is kicked out of his daughter’s Croydon house he returns to his Willesden home to find he’s been gifted a ‘Polish cleaner/home help’. Eager to learn the ways of her new land, the cantankerous and xenophobic Alfred realises that he may indeed still have a role in life: he could teach Maria to be British – and if he succeeds, maybe she might help him in the most unexpected way!
Cast includes Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Lydia Leonard and Joseph Marcell
Creatives include Kwame Kwei-Armah (Director), Helen Goddard (Designer), Rachael McCutcheon (Lighting Designer) and Neil Alexander (Sound Designer)
Helen Goddard’s winning design for the 2007 Linbury Prize for Stage Design led to this commission for Let There Be Love. Click here to read more about the Linbury Prize.