REVIEW - Liberation is a powerful play with a strong message we all need to hear

On Wednesday, we were invited to see Liberation at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. Read what our reviewer Abi Holden had to say about this brilliant play...

Liberation has landed at the Royal Exchange in Manchester for its world premiere! It was written by the glorious Ntombizodwa Nyoni and directed by the wonderful Monique Touko. Going into this, I had no idea what the play was about, apart from the information I got from the synopsis. I didn’t know what to expect but was beyond glad that I got to witness this masterpiece. Everything tied together perfectly to recreate a piece of history.

Telling the tale of the Pan-African Congress, in October 1945, this play shows the gathering of African and Caribbean activists who, following the second world war, are talking of Liberation from the British Empire. This meeting takes place in Manchester. Navigating hatred from the press and trouble amongst the speakers, of which there are only two women, we are taken on a journey of building the foundations of the manifesto that launched liberation. When the guest of honour arrives, however, the female Congress chairwoman is asked to step down, in favour of the male VIP. Dealing with men who don’t want to provide the women space and the white women who work for the Congress rubbing up the black, female speakers the wrong way, it really tells a tale of feminism as well as black liberation. However, the fight for Liberation, hence the name of the play, is the heart and soul of this play.

I love the Royal Exchange because of its unique layout but the lighting and the use of screens really made this play into something else. As each character was introduced, their image appeared with their name, the country they are from and their job role. It really helped the audience to keep track of who was who and the background of each of them, without there being lengthy explanations. It was short, sweet and simple. Despite the modern element of the screens, the costuming was period-appropriate and stunning. There was traditional dress and female boss suits and I loved all of them. 

Eamonn Walker (Chicago Fire; Othello) plays the journalist and author, George Padmore, who has organised the Pan-African Congress and invited all of the speakers so he can condense all of their ideas into a manifesto. His performance as the Trinidadian was stunning. The way he embodied the older man, who had fought all of his life for change and a better life for his descendants, was a wonder to watch. He was a perfect fit for the role, flitting from serious activist to loving partner effortlessly. Leonie Elliott (Call The Midwife; Small Island) played the Jamaican social worker, Alma La Badie, who was fighting for the future of mixed race children that were being abandoned. She was just amazing. The passion that poured from her, in every scene was so good and she also aced all of the comedy. Her comic timing is something to be admired.

Eric Kofi Abrefa played Padmore’s mentee, Kwame Nkrumah, a young man who is finding his way in politics. (Historically, he actually became the first President of Ghana). He was brilliant. He was funny and serious, almost simultaneously. He took the reins of Kwame and breathed life into him. Pamela Novette played the feisty and wonderfully powerful activist Amy Ashwood-Garvey. I loved every second that she was on stage. She played drunk perfectly, as she didn’t overdo it or downplay it too much either. I loved how she played the serious and the hilarious in a way that made you drawn towards her.

The rest of the cast were also phenomenal. Rudolphe Mdlongwa (Is God Is; Barbershop Chronicles) as Makumalo Hlubi - I couldn't keep my eyes off him every time that he was on stage. I loved him. Tonderai Munyevu (As You Like It; Black Men Walking) as Jomo Kenyatta was suave and poised and absolutely hilarious. You knew who he was, immediately, from just his walk. Tachia Newall (Doctor Who; Light Falls) played the half-Irish, half-Sierra Leoninian ex-boxer. His Mancunian accent was perfect and I loved the way he played his friendships with the female characters and how attentive his character was. He did that so beautifully. Joshua Roberts-Mensah (Drum) played Joe Appiah. He played off the other people so well but was also funny, in his own right too. He had a cheeky chappy vibe, which I really liked. Bex Smith (Coronation Street; The Social) played the bright and bubbly secretary and (kind of) love interest of Kwame, Betty Dorman. She was brilliant, especially in the moments where she was an outsider, as she was learning to become a better person. And last, but by no means least, Nicola Stephenson (Our Country’s Good; War Horse) played Padmore’s life partner Dorothy Pizer. She was amazing. I particularly loved the way that she presented a political activist and passionate love, at the same time.

The message in this play is powerful and strong. With it being based on a real-life event, it makes it even more impactful, knowing that what you are watching actually happened. I think that everyone should watch this, no matter what their background, or life experiences, because it has a lesson that I think that everyone should hear. 

WE SCORE LIBERATION...



Liberation is on at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester until Saturday 26th July 2025


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