The Big Life at Theatre Royal Stratford East

20 years after its premiere, The Big Life comes home to the warm lights of the Stratford East. The story is a familiar one with a meaningful twist – Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost told through the eyes of the Windrush generation.

The show is genuinely hilarious, with the audience barely getting a moment to catch their breath before they’re laughing again, whether it’s at the slick physical comedy of the actors onstage, or the quick wit of one Mrs Aphrodite, the riotous matron who spends most of the time in the royal box and chatting to the patrons during scene changes. We follow eight leads as they make their way to England from the West Indies, as they have been invited to do so, only to find cold weather, cold people and no work. The four men swear off women, determined to focus on bettering themselves. This, of course, does not go well, as they all slowly fall in love. Each actor very much holds their own: with rich vocals and believable chemistry, they are wonderfully cohesive and a joy to watch.

The audience is involved throughout the night. Mrs Aphrodite keeps us entertained and the Admiral has us singing along with him, making The Big Life all the more memorable. It’s not all smiles, though, as the realities of the Windrush generation are made clear to us. Sprinkled between this show of love and laughter are pockets of despair and regret, lamenting the home they left and the home that didn’t welcome them, despite the promise to do so. It’s a staunch reminder of the resilience and power of that generation both then and now; to keep believing in love when the skies are so grey is what is at the heart of this production. Tameka Empson, who wrote and acts as Mrs Aphrodite’s character, does not shy away from the modern politics of this subject. In a speech that has the crowd cheering in agreement, she calls out the horrors and injustices of the Windrush Scandal, not afraid to name and shame. It is a truly poignant piece.

All elements of The Big Life come together wonderfully. The direction is masterful, the use of colour to portray the inevitability of love is extremely clever, the voices of the cast are flawless, and the ska music will be in your head for days. It is a raunchy, heartfelt, gem of a show which never loses sight of its theme of love, whether it’s romantic, platonic, familial, or a love for a country that is still learning to love back.

Talitha Stowell

The Big Life is at Theatre Royal Stratford East from 16^th February until 30^th March 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.