The Big Life – Reviews round-up

"Damn good fun"

"Tinuke Craig’s revival is welcome and timely, given its account of postwar prejudice has cruel echoes in recent government policy."

"The Big Life is a big-hearted, baggy piece of work, more joyful than breast-beating, with a bouncy score by Paul Joseph. It’s not subtle, but it’s damn good fun."

"The main pleasure here is the broadly comic misadventures of the men, observed with eye-rolling irony by the women."

"There are adroit comic performances from Ashley Samuels as the male quartet’s leader, would-be academic Ferdy, and Khalid Daley as boisterous baker Dennis: in a cast full of sweet voices, they hit astonishing falsetto notes. "

"This timely revival is a big-hearted, joyful piece of work"

"Still a delight 20 years on"

"it is as infectious, heart-rendering and as achingly resonant as ever."

"Paul Sirett and Tameka Empson’s script takes the convoluted comedy of Shakespeare’s ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ and enriches it to tell a battle of the sexes story from the Windrush generation"

"There’s no weak link in this colossally talented cast, but the evening belongs to Tameka Empson as Mrs Aphrodite. She’s a mastermind comedian, but an even better orator"

"This fantastically warm, joyous Windrush musical deserves to be a hit again"

"The ska-led spin on Love's Labour's Lost was a huge success 20 years ago – and this wonderful revival should likewise be heartily embraced"

"Paul Sirett and Paul Joseph’s joyous ska musical about the Fifties Windrush generation, which takes its storyline of comically thwarted sexual abstinence from Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, exudes such Caribbean-strength warmth that watching it feels like a holiday in itself."

"Trilby hats off to the company – who find depth, charm and sincerity in the sometimes sketchy characterisation, as well as bringing delectable vocal and physical heft to their roles; the committed band neatly stowed away at the rear of the stage. The scene-stealer in chief is Tameka Empson, mainly commenting on the action as a circle-box planted Aphrodite, a wickedly entertaining granny who also imparts salient, stinging rebukes about the Windrush scandal"

"Hits the spot"

"Tinuke Craig’s revival of the ska-based musical about the Windrush generation is very broad and very colourful. If it needs a 30-minute trim, you can’t help admiring the way it generates a communal atmosphere in the stalls."

"Paul Joseph’s music, which includes a splash of soca and soul, is delivered by a crisp band seated on a platform at the rear. If the songs — with lyrics by Sirett — are seductively upbeat, the script doesn’t shy away from bleaker issues too."

"Big-hearted Windrush musical returns with irrepressible verve"

"Paul Sirett and Tameka Empson’s show returns with incredibly infectious songs, ebullient spirit and stunning performances, surfing on its comic charms even when the story seems to slow and then run out of steam."

"It is hard not to foot-tap along, and the cast, each as strong as the next, harmonises beautifully as a chorus."

"The racist hostility that this Windrush generation faced is clear, but we don’t always feel its sting. It seems almost defiantly upbeat, employing radical Black joy against pain."