Cherrelle Skeete in Alterations [Marc Brenner]

ORIGINALLY produced at Hampstead’s New End Theatre in 1978, Guyana-born British writer Michael Abbensetts’ Alterations celebrates the aspirations and sacrifices of the Windrush generation.

This revival, with additional material by Trish Cooke, feels a slighter work than Sam Selvon’s iconic The Lonely Londoners (recently seen at Kiln Theatre).

Set in 70s Carnaby Street, Arinzé Kene stars as Walker Holt, a Guyanese tailor desperate to buy his own shop.

Walker accepts a large order from Mr Nat (Colin Mace) which involves altering a batch of trousers overnight. He has to enlist the help of his assistant Buster (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr), delivery driver Courtney (Raphel Famotibe) and friend Horace (Karl Collins) to finish on time.

As they work, Walker examines his friendships, hopes and dreams, including his troubled marriage to Darlene (Cherrelle Skeete).

Frankie Bradshaw’s colourful costumes are a delight but the revolving stage seems unnecessary—there were technical problems on the night I went and it delayed the performance by 45 minutes.

Both the set and play are dwarfed by the Lyttelton’s cavernous space and a more intimate venue may have better suited the play’s soapy tone.

Abbensetts sensitively explores the Guyanese experience of 1970s London, the prejudices and hostility they endured, and Lynette Linton’s production is engaging. But the comedy is uneven and there’s not quite enough dramatic tension to sustain our interest to the very end.

To April 5
nationaltheatre.org.uk/