Powerful new co-production of Small Island announced for spring 2026
Tue 23 Sep, 2025
The story explores the journeys of Jamaican characters in the 1930s – 1940s, migrating to England. It contains sensitive content including racism, colourism, ableism, descriptions of violence (including war), depictions of violence, depictions of PTSD, death, sexual language and sexual scenes.
Please contact our Box Office on 0113 213 7700 or email groups@leedsplayhouse.org.uk to book in your school or group (10 tickets or more) to come and see a production.
School prices for Small Island are £16 per ticket. To help support your visit, every 11th seat will be free of charge. When booking, please provide the total number of seats required including staff.
Groups of 10+ get £5 off tickets on the top 2 price bands.
All offers are subject to availability.
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.
Original novel
Adaptor
Director
MAJOR FUNDERS
Principal Partner
Principal Access Partner