“The Lonely Londoners” at Kiln Theatre

Photography by Steve Gregson.

My Theatre Confidences 🤫

THE LONELY LONDONERS

Kiln Theatre till 22 February

at a glance…

A visceral exploration of migration, exclusion, and resilience, this production is as urgent now as ever. It strips history down to its rawest truths, mirroring today’s hostile immigration debates and the relentless struggle for belonging. Through stark visuals, fluid movement, and gut-punching performances, it forces us to confront an uncomfortable reality: the fight for acceptance is far from over.

PROMO CODE for £10 tickets at the end of this article.

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Watching "The Lonely Londoners," I found myself not just absorbing a story from the past but reckoning with its urgent relevance to the present. Adapted by Roy Williams from Sam Selvon’s seminal 1956 novel, the play does not merely recount history; it acts as a stark lens on our present, where immigration remains a flashpoint for political division, and the struggles of migrants are weaponized for ideological battles.

At its core, "The Lonely Londoners" chronicles the lives of Caribbean immigrants arriving in 1950s London, men who step off the boat filled with hope only to collide with a city that views them as outsiders. Moses, the play’s weary yet charismatic anchor, has been in London for a decade and now guides a new wave of arrivals—Galahad, full of optimism; Big City, sharp and streetwise; and Lewis, hardened by hardship—through the city’s unwelcoming streets

The play’s fragmented narrative, rather than following a single arc, unfolds in vignettes of struggle, survival, and fleeting joy, showing that in this world, camaraderie isn't a choice but a survival tool.

But this is not just a story about post-war Britain. It is a story about migration itself; about what it means to build a life in a country that resents your presence, about the toll of perpetual otherness. The echoes of Selvon’s London reverberate in today’s headlines: the hostility toward migrants, the narratives of "taking back control," and the insidious ways in which racism is institutionalized while being denied. Watching the play in 2025, it is impossible to ignore the parallels between the discrimination faced by the Windrush generation and the political rhetoric shaping immigration policies today.

Photography by Steve Gregson

Consider the Trump administration’s relentless anti-immigrant agenda in the U.S.: the demonization of asylum seekers, the forced separations at the border, the mass deportations that fractured families. These policies aren’t just political maneuvers; they are statements about who belongs and who does not. And that sentiment—this idea that certain groups are permanently outside the national identity—lurks at the heart of "The Lonely Londoners." The Windrush arrivals were British citizens in name, yet they were constantly reminded that they were not British enough. It is the same struggle faced by Dreamers in the U.S., by refugees seeking safety, by any group that power structures decide are expendable.

The play’s most gut-punching moment comes when Galahad, once so enthralled with London’s promise, confronts the full force of racism and begins to resent the very skin that marks him as an outsider. It’s a stark portrayal of how discrimination erodes identity, turning hope into cynicism. And that is why "The Lonely Londoners" is essential viewing now; not simply because it documents history, but because it reminds us how little has changed.

Photography by Steve Gregson

This production strips the story to its emotional essence, with movement sequences that visually underscore the weight these men carry; not just economic hardship but the relentless burden of proving their right to exist in a space that rejects them. The choreography also provides the humane context that underpins all the relationships between characters, highlighting their shared struggles and moments of connection.

The minimalist set, the fluid choreography, the raw performances: all of it amplifies the play’s central truth: resilience is often the only option when acceptance is denied.

I couldn’t help but think about the cyclical nature of these struggles. The faces change, the accents shift, but the themes remain distressingly familiar. "The Lonely Londoners" isn’t just a look back; it’s a provocation, a challenge to examine who we shut out today and how history will judge us for it. In a time of rising nationalism and tightening borders, it forces us to ask: who do we allow to dream, and who do we deny even that?

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A quick note on my reflections on the shows I see:

Let’s be clear: you won’t find the typical “review” on my page. I don’t buy into the so-called objectivity of mainstream theatre criticism; it’s outdated and protects toxic power structures while sidelining marginalised voices. I’m not objective, and I’m proud of it. I’ve got my own lenses. My reflections are personal, shaped by my lived experiences and values. I share what moved me, what challenged me, and what’s worth talking about; not ticking boxes or handing out stars.

And no, I’m not going to describe the whole plot or list every onstage moment; I find that mind-numbingly boring, both to write and to read.

Giuliano x

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My Way of Looking at Theatre

You know, the more I think about it, the clearer it becomes that traditional theatre criticism has often been a tool for maintaining existing power structures.

It’s time to drop the privileged fancy talk around theatre and break free from star ratings.

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