Retrograde follows Ryan Calais Cameron’s smash West End hit For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy - which was so good it sold out twice - first at the Apollo in 2023 and then returning swiftly by public demand to the Garrick in 2024. Cameron once again proves what an exceptional writer he is as he takes a real moment in history, expands upon it and dissects it for all its possibilities. Whether he is writing for Poitier or the two white men who are a reflection of their time with their various bursts of dialogue ranging from outdated to offensive.
Set in an NBC office in the 1950s, Retrograde plays out in real time as Poitier arrives to sign the contract for the movie his friend Billy has written for him. Here, he’s greeted by Billy (Oliver Johnstone), a scriptwriter desperate for his time in the limelight, and Mr Parks (Stanley Townsend), a serpentine studio lawyer who is reluctant to see change or progress in America. Unsurprisingly, everything is not as it seems and when Poitier is asked to sell his soul and sign a loyalty oath, the silence is intense as the audience waits on a knife edge for what seems like an eternity for Poitier to make his decision. From the start, we long for him to shout out in rage at the position he has been put in and when he finally does his words reverberate around the theatre like thunder and the audience breathes again.
Ivanno Jeremiah who plays Poitier is completely transfixing from the moment he steps on stage. He is one of those actors who can take a long stretch of silence and make it one of the most riveting moments of the play. He is sensational with an effortless ability to command attention. He gives an assured, confident and charming performance throughout the whole play as he navigates the complexities of the decision he has to make.
Retrograde is a play that feels both contemporary and yet like an instant classic, exploring integrity, betrayal, and the personal cost of success. A fantastic play with and exceptional cast and script. Do not miss it.
Retrograde is currently playing at Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London until 14 June 2025.
Details
- Address:
- Apollo Theatre
- W1D 7EZ
- Transport:
- Tube Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo, Piccadilly)