No longer booking
  • Venue Apollo Theatre, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 14 June 2025
  • Running time 90 minutes (no interval)
  • Age guidelines 14+

Get tickets to Retrograde – A Wickedly Funny New Play in London’s West End

From the award-winning writer of For Black Boys… comes Retrograde, a powerful new drama playing at London’s Apollo Theatre until 14 June 2025.

It’s 1957, and young Sidney Poitier is about to hit the big time. The only catch? He might have to sell his soul to do it. Retrograde takes you behind the scenes of Tinseltown’s golden age, where a make-or-break film deal could either skyrocket Sidney to stardom or bury him in Hollywood’s backlot.

Packed with razor-sharp dialogue, biting humour, and a fair share of moral dilemmas, Retrograde unpacks the tension, courage, and sheer audacity of one man standing up for what he believes — even when everyone’s telling him to play the game.

It’s bold, it’s funny, it’s devastatingly relevant — and it’s your ticket to an unforgettable night of theatre.

Book Now – Limited run only

Retrograde is booking until 14 June 2025 at the West End’s Apollo Theatre. Get your tickets now for Retrograde — a powerful and thought-provoking new play in London’s West End!

The Golden Age of Hollywood.

Behind closed doors, aspiring actor Sidney Poitier is offered a lucrative contract that could make him a superstar. But what is he willing to sacrifice?

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Performance Information

Check booking calendar for full details

Stars and Creatives

Ivanno Jeremiah
Ivanno Jeremiah
Stanley Townsend
Stanley Townsend

Who is in the cast of Retrograde?

Starring Ivanno Jeremiah as Sidney Poitier, Stanley Townsend as Mr Parks and Oliver Johnstone as writer Bobby

Who are the creative team of Retrograde?

  • Written by Ryan Calais Cameron
  • Directed by Amit Sharma
  • Design by Frankie Bradshaw
  • Lighting Design by Amy Mae
  • Sound Design by Beth Duke
  • Casting Direction by Juliet Horsley CDG

Important Notes

Access Performances: BSL: Friday 18 April, 7.30pm Captioned: Saturday 26 April, 2.30pm Audio Described: Saturday 3 May, 7.30pm

Venue Information

Apollo Theatre , Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES

Nearest Tube or Train: Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo line, Piccadilly line)

Nearest Buses: 1, 14, 19, 22, 24, 29, 38, 55, 176

Directions

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Critics' reviews of Retrograde

★★★★★ "A deserved West End triumph" - The Telegraph (West End)

★★★★★ " This account of a pivotal episode in the life of Sidney Poitier is so articulately defiant it bears comparison with The Crucible" - The Telegraph (Kiln Theatre)

★★★★ "Wickedly funny" - The Evening Standard (West End)

★★★★ "Ryan Calais Cameron’s portrait of Sidney Poitier is electrifying" - The Evening Standard (Kiln Theatre)

★★★★ "Terrific new play" - Financial Times (Kiln Theatre)

★★★★ "Brilliantly tense" - The Independent (West End)

★★★★ "Ryan Calais Cameron cements himself as one of theatre’s most thrilling voices" - The Independent (Kiln Theatre)

★★★★ "Fun, cerebral and poignant" - The Stage (West End)

★★★★ "Ivanno Jeremiah is magnetic as Poitier" - The Stage (Kiln Theatre)

★★★★ "Ryan Calais Cameron’s terrific three-hander" - The Guardian (Kiln Theatre)

★★★★ "Sharply skewers race and power in Hollywood’s Golden Age" - i News (Kiln Theatre)

★★★★ "Ryan Calais Cameron’s superb thriller" - TimeOut (West End)

Also see: Retrograde Reviews Round-up

Frequently Asked Questions

Retrograde is playing at the Apollo Theatre in London
The running time of Retrograde is 90 minutes (no interval)
The age recommendations for Retrograde are: 14+
Yes, Retrograde has matinee performances on the following days: Wednesday, Saturday

Sidney Poitier was a groundbreaking actor, trailblazer, and cultural icon. Born in 1927 in the Bahamas, he became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, earning the Oscar in 1964 for his performance in Lilies of the Field.

Poitier was celebrated not only for his immense talent but also for his commitment to challenging racial stereotypes in Hollywood. As an activist and advocate for civil rights, his work on and off the screen helped reshape perceptions of Black actors in the film industry and inspired generations of artists.

Known for films like Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, and To Sir, with Love, Poitier’s legacy remains a testament to courage, integrity, and resilience.

No, sorry, Retrograde has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

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