National Theatre at Home: Small Island
Filmed live during its sold-out run in 2019, the National Theatre’s epic production of Andrea Levy’s Orange Prize-winning novel is streaming with National Theatre at Home to mark Windrush Day 2020.
Small Island embarks on a journey from Jamaica to Britain, through the Second World War to 1948 – the year the HMT Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury.
The play follows 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. Hope and humanity meet stubborn reality as the play traces the tangled history between Jamaica and the UK.
A company of 40 actors take to the stage of the Olivier Theatre in this timely and moving story.
BBFC rating 15 when released in cinema. 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.
At a time when you aren’t able to visit National Theatre Live venues or local theatres, we’re excited to bring you National Theatre at Home.
Small Island was streamed as part of National Theatre at Home from 7pm on Thursday 18 June until 7pm on Thursday 25 June on the National Theatre’s YouTube channel.
Some of the best British theatre was free to watch from the comfort of your living room, via YouTube, with each title available for one week.
Thank you to all the amazing artists who have allowed us to share Small Island in this way, during a time when many theatre fans aren’t able to visit their local theatre.
Audio-described provision for Small Island
An Audio-described version of the Small Island stream was made available on YouTube.
Please note: This production contains strobe-like effects.
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- Text NTATHOME 10 to 70085 to donate £10
- Text NTATHOME 20 to 70085 to donate £20
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Visit our National Theatre at Home page for more donation options and to see the full programme of streaming shows