Simon Ward reviews Shifters at the Duke of York’s Theatre

After a sellout run at the Bush Theatre earlier this year, Congolese-British playwright Benedict Lombe’s second play, Shifters has triumphantly transferred to the West End. As regular readers will know, the Peg seldom finds itself in the rarefied atmosphere of London’s Theatreland. Small rooms above pubs are its more natural milieu. So I must admit to an extra frisson as I approached the Duke of York’s where there was a definite first night buzz in the air, and so much milling around and air-kissing in the foyer and bars that the start was delayed by fifteen minutes. But when it did start, the atmosphere was electric and the audience was glued to the edge of their seats for the entire hour and a half.

True to its off-West End roots, this is a two-hander with minimal set or props. The focus is entirely on Heather Agyepong (Des) and Tosin Cole (Dre). Under the direction of Lynette Linton, the two leads deliver stunning performances. The play continually jumps between moments in time – punctuated by Neil Austin’s clever lighting design so we always know where we are. We see Des and Dre meet first at school, become friends, fall out, get back together – scenes change at dizzying speed but they never miss a beat. They forge a relationship, a connection so deep and strong that nothing can break it – not distance, not absence, not even other lovers. Their lives are not easy and nor is their relationship – they have to learn to love and trust each other as well as learning how to live their own lives.

Des is extremely ambitious – she has big dreams of a life as an artist, and she is determined not to be tied down or held back by any relationship. Dre has dreams of his own – he wants to bring his Nana’s cooking to the world in his restaurant – but would actually love to fulfill them with Des by his side. Cole does a brilliant job of portraying a man who is not afraid to show vulnerability, whose feelings are always close to the surface. Agyepong is feisty, she will not be defined by any man. But, in the end, can either of them really manage without the other?

This feels like a landmark production for Black theatre in the UK. The audience at the first night was one of the most diverse I have ever seen in the West End. Whereas the National Theatre production of Andrea Levy’s Small Island was a masterful and important telling of the story of the Windrush generation, this is a love story told by the succeeding generations, people who share that heritage but whose home is, and always has been, Britain. This is a romance for the ages. It is beautiful, funny, heartbreaking and devastatingly moving. The opening night standing ovation was spontaneous and heartfelt.

Shifters runs at the Duke of York’s Theatre, 104 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG until Saturday 12th October.