The world premiere of Roy Williams’ The Fellowship is a poignant, tender, and comedic telling of issues plaguing two sisters navigating family life beyond the Windrush scandal.

Libby Watson’s chic design sets a modern, cosy apartment with towering, winding stairs as the home of Dawn Adams’ (Skeete) and the magnet of all the family’s drama. Dawn is the forced carer of her dying mother, whilst struggling to find support from a carefree and distant son. Though sporadic, she finds moments of comfort with her sister Marcia (Llewellyn) when she visits. Yet, as a high-flying barrister caught in a political scandal, Marcia has a selfish streak; prioritising her own issues and leaving Dawn to pick up the pieces.

Although the two once had a lot in common from being raised on the frontlines of activist struggles (1981 Brixton riots and 1985 Broadwater Farm riots), they are now faced with their differences. In Act I, the sisters go from bumping chests and drinking wine reminiscing about their youth to a heartfelt confrontation about Marcia’s failing to be there for Dawn and their dying mother. This hot and cold relationship sets the foundation to a tumultuous story of responsibility, accountability, and family bonds. Lucy Vandi was billed to play Dawn but fell ill, and in swooped Skeete (originally cast as PC Spencer and a youthful Sylvia, the sister’s mother). Despite a week’s rehearsals, and a script in hand in some scenes, Skeete is arresting and plays the role with weight.

Roy Williams packs in many layers of narratives in his writing – Dawn’s son Jermaine (Hazzard) is caught in a love affair with Simone (Day) who was in a relationship with Jermaine’s brother Daryl and the cause of his death at the hands of a racist mob; while Dawn’s partner and Jermaine’s father Tony (Haird) plays the elusive, absent father who cares more about his music than his family. As a result, and due to its near 3-hour runtime, the work becomes cumbersome at times with serious implications of accessibility. But much like Dawn’s guilty pleasure of Boy George and Take That, there is much to love about The Fellowship; it’s an authentic, heartfelt, and smile-inducing family drama.

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