Shifters - Bush Theatre / Duke of York's

[Steve]

Saw the matinee, and thought it was excellent.

It is similar to "Constellations," in that it is a two hander depicting a potential romantic relationship in disjointed scenes, though, like "Blackout Songs," the romance depicted exists in one nonlinear timeline.

It features a terrific performance by Tosin Cole, who is a theatre actor to watch out for.

Some spoilers follow. . .

Tosin Cole's Dre is a delightful confident open book of a charmer, his banter of the fast-turn brilliant-comic-timing variety, who falls for an an intelligent, likeable but unfortunately (for him) closed book of a character, Heather Agyepong's Des.

Her closed nature is the principal fuel of the drama, with him attempting to open her up in all sorts of non-linear intercut moments of their lives. This is intriguing in the extreme, but also makes Agyepong's Des a frustrating character for the audience, for most of the running time (1 hour 40 minutes, without an interval) as we want what Cole's character wants. Swings and roundabouts lol.

I thought Agyepong's performance was very good, conveying the compelling contrariness of her character, but Cole's performance is one of the rare great ones, that lifts the words on the page into a unique unforgettable character that goes beyond words.

4 stars from me.

[andbingowashisname]

Mar 6, 2024 23:58:00 GMT Steve said:

I thought Agyepong's performance was very good, conveying the compelling contrariness of her character, but Cole's performance is one of the rare great ones, that lifts the words on the page into a unique unforgettable character that goes beyond words.

The Bush continues to nurture and produce great new plays.

After spending 100 minutes with Dre and Des it feels like you've made two new friends for life. I left the theatre but felt like the characters are coming with me somehow.

Benedict Lombe has written a love story that drew me in completely, and Tosin Cole and Heather Agyepong have such immediacy, such soft hands, such availability, that it felt like being witness to something of real consequence and beauty.

With this, Red Pitch and This Might Not Be It - amongst others - it feels like the Bush has become one of the best (if not the best) programmed theatres in the country. And audiences are coming. Diverse audiences. Lynette Linton and her team deserve huge credit.

[zahidf]

This was excellent! Incredibly likeable characters and actors, funny and sad.

Its sold out for the run but got a todaytix rush ticket. 100% worth catching

[drmaplewood]

Mar 12, 2024 21:27:21 GMT zahidf said:

This was excellent! Incredibly likeable characters and actors, funny and sad.

Its sold out for the run but got a todaytix rush ticket. 100% worth catching

Can I check when the Rush starts, is it 10am?

[zahidf]

Mar 13, 2024 11:33:41 GMT drmaplewood said:

Mar 12, 2024 21:27:21 GMT zahidf said:

This was excellent! Incredibly likeable characters and actors, funny and sad.

Its sold out for the run but got a todaytix rush ticket. 100% worth catching

Can I check when the Rush starts, is it 10am?

Yup 10.00 am

[drmaplewood]

Mar 13, 2024 12:04:22 GMT zahidf said:

Mar 13, 2024 11:33:41 GMT drmaplewood said:

Can I check when the Rush starts, is it 10am?

Yup 10.00 am

Thank you.

Enjoyed this tonight although it really is VERY similar to Constellations, even down to the lighting.

[Jon]

I wonder if Shifters have a future life, perhaps a short run @sohoplace after Red Pitch?

[zahidf]

Mar 16, 2024 2:11:12 GMT Jon said:

I wonder if Shifters have a future life, perhaps a short run @sohoplace after Red Pitch?

It felt very much like a play which would work in a bigger venue for sure.

[zuberin0]

Notes I tapped out on the tube home. What a show this is.
***

Lynette Linton proves, yet again, that she is the best AD in the business. The body of work she's put together at the Bush over the last few years has no parallel in London, so bold, so brilliant and beautiful are the stories we get to see on that tiny stage on an almost weekly basis! Shifters is a love story to buckle your knees, tricksy in its conception, nigh on perfect in its execution, a panoramic exploration of so many facets of the black experience - education and ambition, staying here vs going back, yoruba vs lingala, parents and children, love and loss, food and music, even black skin and black hair - all compressed into 100 tight minutes and impeccably acted by two young phenoms in Cole and Agyepong.

Black drama is going through a very special era right now - you look around at the range of exceptional plays that are showing in town even THIS WEEK - For Black Boys, Lonely Londoners, Red Pitch, Shifters - and you wonder if it can possibly get any better than this! Lynette and the Bush have led this charge from the front, harnessing all that thrilling energy, lighting the fuse behind the wild explosion of creative talent that we see right now. Long may it last.

[barelyathletic]

Well. this was a total treat. A really beautiful script, funny, moving, profound and real, and two hugely charismatic performances with a chemistry that just explodes off the stage. Gorgeous design and beautifully directed. Another triumph for the Bush who, with this, Red Pitch and other recent productions, really have claimed the crown as London's leadimg new writing venue. An absolute triumph which must surely have more life.

[gcbf]

Saw this last night - really loved it, the gradual building/unveiling of the characters' world together was so well done and I found the whole production so compelling, thoughtful & kind. Some great chemistry between the leads too and beautifully acted by both.

[thistimetomorrow]

Without spoiling it, I thought the ending was so well done. Bush theatre comes through again with some great programming. Not seen a dud here yet!

[Dave B]

Transfers to Duke of York(!)

Mon 12 Aug - Sat 12 Oct 2024

www.atgtickets.com/shows/shifters/duke-of-yorks-theatre/

[osdtdg]

Thats fantastic news for the cast, am not usually big on plays - especially ones which focus on romance. I wonder if this might be worth it just for performances though? Anyone that can give some early insight on prices?

[Dave B]

Jun 20, 2024 8:15:34 GMT osdtdg said:

Anyone that can give some early insight on prices?

Here is a Saturday night after press night per ATG+ right now.

[zahidf]

www.theguardian.com/stage/article/2024/jun/20/uk-audiences-thirsty-black-british-love-stories-playwright-benedict-lombe

[alessia]

Thank you for the heads up- missed it at the bush so just got myself a ticket - affordable, for a change!!!

[Jon]

There is apparently on stage seating, torn between waiting for those or booking a 20 quid ticket now.

[Steve]

Jun 20, 2024 12:28:19 GMT Jon said:

There is apparently on stage seating, torn between waiting for those or booking a 20 quid ticket now.

Its quite an intimate show, involving subtle feelings (also some very funny banter) over long periods, so I think sitting close for this one would be nice.

[lt]

Thanks for the alert, just got the £20 tickets!

[patiently_waiting]

Sorry to have missed this at the Bush. Thanks for the heads up!

[PineappleForYou]

Intrigued what Whatsonstage means when it says: "feature one kiss in particular which you’re unlikely to see the equal of onstage this year."

[producerfacts]

Odd transfer but I’m here for it

[nash16]

Agree. I caught it at the Bush and enjoyed, but a West End transfer… I’m worried about sales, even for 9 weeks. Hopefully it’ll get people in though. Red Pitch transfer went from hot ticket at the Bush to being almost empty some shows. With papering.

[Jon]

Jun 21, 2024 22:47:08 GMT nash16 said:

Agree. I caught it at the Bush and enjoyed, but a West End transfer… I’m worried about sales, even for 9 weeks. Hopefully it’ll get people in though. Red Pitch transfer went from hot ticket at the Bush to being almost empty some shows. With papering.

Shifters does have the advantage of having Tosin Cole who many people will know from Doctor Who and the upcoming Netflix series Supacell.