Theatre Review: Cheeky Little Brown, Belgrade Theatre - filled with heart and soul

Image by: Craig Fuller

⭑⭑⭑⭑

 A voyage through black womanhood and resilience with a sprinkle of cheekiness

Chinonyerem Odimba's "Cheeky Little Brown" is an intriguing coming-of-age play that takes the audience on a journey of self-discovery, queerness, defying societal standards, and finding resilience in the face of tragedy or sometimes just pure bad luck. Cheeky Little Brown" is an outstanding theatrical experience that creates a lasting impression because of its great writing, passionate acting, and smart directing.

“When you’ve known someone basically your whole life,
Since you were five,
And you know all the same people,
And everyone you know knows you as one special Thing,
Sister-friends.”

The play begins with Lady, played by Tiata Fahodzi, who attends her friend Gemma's birthday party. The two were previously inseparable best friends but have not spoken in six months. Lady reflects on their childhood growing up in the close-knit black community where everyone knows each other. During their separation, Gemma moved to a new place, with a nice rug. She also made new friends that Lady describes as “Palm Coloured”. Their differences lead to tragic events which lead to a chaotic night out. This comedy- drama turns into a musical production that explores themes such as heartbreak, queerness and growing up overweight while being a Black woman marginalised by prejudices. Lady faces these topics through telling and acting out interwoven stories. This play confronts racism head-on along with bigotry challenges cultural integration within communities urging audiences to reassess biases and preconceptions they might hold unto on the spot.

"Cheeky Little Brown" is brought to life through the heart and soul of Nkenna Akunna’s writing. Her use of London slang and Nigerian pidgin language at times effectively portrays the characters' complexities, evoking their personalities in a snappy, humorous, yet emotionally intense manner. It is essential because Lady portrays all the characters, providing a rare chance for viewers of any race and regardless of their background to witness not only her world but also experience it from the perspective of a young black woman. Additionally, the writing of the music amidst scenes, which is basically a taletelling of the protagonist's emotions, adds both comedic and captivating elements.

The main character, played with exceptional talent and depth, and navigates the complexity of their identity with grace and perseverance. As soon as the play starts, the crowd is integrated into the festivities. Through direct address from the protagonist's character, attempts at communication are made with audience interaction. The initial awkwardness of the character creates a convincing portrayal of any person who has felt out-of-place in a party setting.  This contributes to the energy and sincerity of the role, resulting in a colourful act that captivates the audience from beginning to end. A standout moment was when the audience collectively sang "Happy Birthday" to Gemma, causing the protagonist to become emotional and ultimately break out into a birthday song of her own. A comedic atmosphere was created by the protagonist's improvisation and quick reaction. Although it is a solo performance, the protagonist effectively utilises props to bring them to life. Adding a microphone to her bag gives Lady’s character an extra touch of quirkiness. Her beautiful singing voice accompanies this.

Another example is her rearrangement of birthday balloon letters that fit her circumstances, vomiting glitter brilliantly and even receiving an unfamiliar visitor at night that falls from the ceiling.

Chinonyerem Odimba’s vison for "Cheeky Little Brown" is visible in every area of the production. The production is minimal with birthday letter balloons in the background and a party set up with a table and snacks but effective, enabling the audience to focus on the characters' emotional journey and the story telling which is the heart of the play. The use of lighting and sound design improves the mood and produces a sense of intimacy, pulling the audience into the play's universe.

"Cheeky Little Brown" is a modern theatre art piece, addressing serious social concerns with honesty, and sincerity. The superb writing of Chinonyerem Odimba, paired with powerful performance of Tiata Fahodzi and the brilliant writing of Nkenna, results in a production that is both emotionally compelling and thought-provoking.

cheeky little brown concludes it’s tour in Derby, from October 30th-November 3rd. Tickets available here.