“Had she lived, Andrea would have been here, cheering it on”
Tue 17 Feb, 2026
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Playhouse production
Small Island
12 – 28 Mar 2026
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Tickets£16.50 - £47.50
Bookings are subject to a £2.50 transaction fee.
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VenueQuarry
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Running time3 hrs 25 mins
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Age guidance14+
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Content AdvisoriesFind out more
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Group bookingsFind out more
Journey from the sun-drenched shores of Jamaica to the cold, grey streets of 1940s London in Small Island.
A powerful and intimate portrayal of Andrea Levy’s multi award-winning novel, adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson. Directed by Matthew Xia, this bold staging offers a fresh perspective on a world shaped by empire and entitlement, caught between belonging and unbelonging, disappointment and hope.
Four unforgettable characters bring this Windrush story to life: Hortense and Gilbert, determined Jamaican migrants in search of belonging and respect; Queenie, an Englishwoman who defies convention; and Bernard, her husband, struggling with change. Together, they discover love across culture, colour and class – and the fragile hope of a shared future.
Spanning decades and continents, this brand-new production draws on the joyful rhythms of calypso and the harsh realities of postwar Britain to explore the emotional truth of our collective history, brought vividly to life through music, striking visuals and a compelling story you will never forget.
A Leeds Playhouse, Birmingham Rep and Nottingham Playhouse production, in association with Actors Touring Company.
Production images
In the rehearsal room
Cast
Anna Crichlow
Hortense
Daniel Ward
Gilbert
Bronté Barbé
Queenie
Mark Arends
Bernard
Mara Allen
Miss Ma/Celia
Rosemary Boyle
Mrs Ryder
Paul Hawkyard
Arthur
Zoe Lambert
Aunt Dorothy/Miss Todd
Jordan Laviniere
Little Michael
Marcia Mantack
Miss Jewel
Andre Squire
Elwood
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Creatives
Andrea Levy
Original novel
Helen Edmundson
Adaptor
Matthew Xia
Director
Simon Kenny
Set & Costume Designer
Ciarán Cunningham
Lighting Designer
Adrienne Quartly
Sound Designer
Asha Jennings-Grant
Movement & Intimacy Director
Hazel Holder
Voice & Dialect Coach
Kev McCurdy
Fight Director
Lucy Casson CDG
Casting Director
Luke Bacchus
Composer
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Audio Flyer
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