Big Life, The

Alternative title: The Ska Musical
Synopsis: Based loosely on the plot of Love’s Labour’s Lost, the action of this much acclaimed ska musical is set in 1950s London. The Big Life follows the fortunes of a group of Caribbean immigrants arriving in Britain on board the Windrush. In order to make the most of their new lives in England, they vow to forswear women and to devote themselves to self-improvement. In the radio adaptation the play is narrated by the Admiral, one of the passengers of the ship.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Recording date: 21 Jun 2005
Duration: 196 mins

Writer

Paul Sirett

Music

Paul Joseph

Choreographer

Jason Pennycooke

Contributor

Clint Dyer; Robert Hyman

Cast

Victor Romero Evans	Ferdy (Ferdinand, King of Navarre)
Neil Reidman	Bernie (Berowne)
Antonia Kemi Coker	Zulieka (Princess of France)
Yaa	Sybil (Rosaline)
Amanda Horlock	Secretary
Chris Tummings	Lennie (Longaville)
Claudia Cadette	Kathy (Catherine)
Geoff Aymer
Jason Pennycooke	Admiral
Marcus Powell	Dennis (Dumaine)
Tamaka Empson

Theatre: Apollo Theatre, West End, London
Production type: Stage Recordings
Historical period: 1950s
Plays: Love’s Labour’s Lost
Subjects: Drama
Keywords: musicals; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Multicultural casting; Black actors; Ska

Notes: A version of the play was broadcast by the BBC World Service 25 February 2006 and may be accessed at the British Library Sound Archive.
General: The Big Life was the first black British musical ever to be performed in the West End.
The title of the production is taken from Sam Selvon’s novel The Lonely Londoners (1956).
History: The musical premiered in Theatre Royal, Stratford East, London, on 7 April 2004 where it was directed by Clint Dyer. After a repeat run at Stratford in February 2005, it transferred to the West End Apollo Theatre on 23 May 2005.
The Big Life is the first musical to be broadcast in the BBC World Service Play of the Week series.
Textual information: The script of the musical was published by Oberon Books in April 2004.
Reviews: Ferris, Lesley. "The Big Life: The Ska Musical."
Theatre Journal 57.1 (2005): 110-112.

Ritchie, Fiona. "The Big Life, by Paul Sirett." Borrowers and Lenders: The Journal of Shakespeare and Appropriation. 1.2 (2006): np. http://atropos.english.uga.edu/cocoon/borrowers/current_index

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