With Miss COVID-19 taking a backseat at long last, I had the brightest idea to bring back and rename my former theatre/musical blog series. An equally joyous journey like the show that I'm about to feature in this blog post, 'It's Showtime...' had me bringing in the applause to a whole new musical show experience! BHM don't 'RUSH' yourself! Yes, Windrush is about to set sail!
Fresh from my November 2021 theater experience at Birmingham's Crescent Theatre, 'Marcus Garvey' had inspired me to find something else to see at the theatre! On the train back to Wolverhampton from that 'inspiring' show, I found out that 'RUSH' would be returning to the West Midlands just after the New Year in 2022! With their tour dates done gone at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre, where would we be able to see this 'Joyous Jamaican Journey?' Birmingham's Repertory Theatre had our backs, booking four tickets for the 11th of February 2022 for myself, Mum and two Aunties had to be done and did! I'll tell you something for free, no more would we be forced to enjoy culture from home anymore, getting back to real-life in-person venues had to be done! Of course, I knew about the legendary voyages of the 'Empire Windrush' but through music and storytelling, I needed to be a part of that evening! Riding the waves, I had only seen snapshots from the Wolves dates through social media. Get it!
If you have any culture in your head, not knowing about the voyages from the Caribbean to England by the 'Windrush' stands as a godforsaken crime! Knowing a favourable amount about Jamaica's history after Spanish Colonial Rule, I wanted to know more about the history further back to the days of the Columbus misunderstandings. Sure times were dark and through the systemic racism, communities continue to fight, such a story had to be told through the medium of music! I wanted to know how continuous rebellions have shaped the island of Jamaica, leading to the term 'We likkle but we tallawah' came to be Jamaica's tagline. Only after 74 years since the first Empire sailings, which brought thousands of British Caribbean citizens to Her Majesty's shores, now we must teach every generation about the might of the 'Windrush Generation'. Now do you understand why I had to see this show for myself before the production left the Midlands? Sure, you do! Miss Omicron, didn't cancel this show at least! Come on, REP!
Beginning the Jamaican theme earlier on during that February 2022 evening, I had gone ahead to make reservations at Birmingham's own 'Turtle Bay'. Capturing a 'Caribbean' sense of taste before our 'Repertory Theatre' sailings commenced was the mood for me and my Auntie, Michelle. The music and meals enjoyed at Turtle Bay had us in the 'island' mindset for the show later on that evening in Birmingham. It had been some years since I had even set foot inside the building connecting the Library of Birmingham and the Repertory Theatre once our group had reunited from our differing paths to Birmingham. With its shiny new exterior, I was definitely looking forward to my show at the Repertory Theatre in Birmingham town! Tickets presented, we took our seats ready for the show, of course a relaxed nature could be felt in the air. I'm about to mention something quite relevant and honest about the demographic of the theatre's audience because there's a conversation to be had for the rights reasons! The REP represented!
Curtain up, Comedian 'John Simmit' introduced the show with a warmth and readiness! Accompanied by a fully fledged and ready live band, the 'JA Reggae Band' were ready to play some seriously good beats as part of the Rush Theatre Company. To see a positively 'highly melanated' cast on the stage felt correct because theater today really needs to represent those who we don't see on the stage or in the audience! Our history began in the 1400's with the 'Arawak Tribe' minding their business, cultivating a life on the island of Jamaica, then came the questionable landings of the 'lost' European explorer. Columbus had done himself wrong, more so declared the region to be the 'West Indies'. With many musical interludes, the singers that were on stage added a light break to the 'Realness' from the history. Through the first half of the show the many trailblazers of the island were celebrated, causing a commotion for their island in the face of much adversity! Empire calling? Yes, a certain invitation had been extended. Really?!
The Caribbean people of Jamaica and many other British ruled West Indian islands had received their call from the 'Mother Country' as many others from the Commonwealth had done. With strong work ethics and a thirst to make their best for their families, arriving into the unknown at Tilbury Docks from 1948 gave birth to the 'Windrush Generation'. 'To Be Young, Gifted & Black' the songs of the greats helped narrate the paths faced by the Caribbean people from the Windrush, making lives for their families and planting new roots for the future. Music became an integral part for the people of the 'Windrush Generation' to make sense of life. What intentions did 'Enoch Powell' really have? That would reveal some shady business dealt on Powell's part! Learning about the evolution of music through the years, such genres like 'Lovers Rock', 'SKA' and most famously 'Reggae' became a part of British Caribbean society. Without these music genres and influences, RUSH knew that music in Britain would be seriously dry!
The pace of the show led us to 1993, with more years to reach the 2022 stage it had us running over time! Before getting to that 1993 point, it was a treat to see the 'Gospel' offerings of the Jamaican style church songs because I definitely didn't see the same energy when I went to church before going to Catholic school. Britain needs to add some serious seasonings to those caucasian religious affairs, no lie! SKA became 'Two Tone' with the marriage between cultural learning, interracial community links brought us bands such as 'The Specials' and 'Madness' with tones of music from both cultures that bridged the gap. Hearing that such a tragedy happened before the killing of 'Stephen Lawrence' appalled me because even before the Met's modern day failings, such unexplainable cover ups had taken place! Cue the music once again! A Joyous Jamaican Journey 'RUSH' definitely was, due to our transport arrangements we didn't see the final part of the second half. A shame that it was, the show was still amazing overall! Oh!
RUSH Represents!
Joseph Harrison