Red Pitch is a new piece of British Theatre written by Tyrell Williams. Originally performed at the Bush Theatre in February 2022, the production received the George Devine Award, Best New Play at the Off West End Awards, with Tyrell Williams named Best Writer at the Stage Debut Awards, and awarded the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright and Most Promising Playwright at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards. Thanks to this tremendous success, Red Pitch has now transferred to the West End’s newest venue @sohoplace where it plays for a limited season.
Red Pitch focuses on three young friends and their changing world. What happens when your football pitch, a place you’ve laughed, fought, and forged friendships – the very existence of your closeknit community – is threatened by impending demolition? Can lifelong friends continue to dream of stardom, or will their goals be torn down alongside their home?
Bush Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director Daniel Bailey (Lenny Henry’s August in England, The High Table, I Wonder If) directs Kedar Williams-Stirling (Sex Education, The Lion King, History Boys) as Bilal, Emeka Sesay (The Book of Clarence, The Power, Pretty Red Dress) as Joey and Francis Lovehall (A Thousand Blows, Small Axe: Lovers Rock, His Dark Materials) as Oms. All three returning to reprise their roles from the Bush Theatre production.
All three actors display incredible versatility and athleticism throughout the play as they run, jump, drop shoulder and dance their way through Williams’s play. Kedar Williams-Stirling as Bilal gives a stellar performance. Smoothly alternating between quiet stoicism and undeniable warmth, Williams-Stirling delivers a Bilal that is discovering himself through his friends, family and surroundings. A wonderful performance from a very talented actor. As Joey, Emeka Sesay is very affecting. Slightly more affluent than his peers, Joey’s trusting naivety is brought to life well by Sesay, offering tender moments and plenty of laughs, showcasing a wonderfully versatile performance throughout. Francis Lovehall’s gives a wonderfully layered performance as Oms. Struggling to care for a younger brother and elderly family member, Oms often lets his fiery temper get the better of him and Lovehall portrays this vulnerability with a sensitive flare through a touching performance. Attempting to mask their own vulnerability through banter, all three characters are played to perfection with a fresh authenticity not often seen on the West End stage.
Using @sohoplace to it’s full potential, Amelia Jane Hankin’s in the round set design is simple but extremely effective, turning the stage into a football pitch. Combine that with Ali Hunter’s impressive lighting design and Khalil Madovi’s excellent sound design and Red Pitch comes to life in a visually stunning production seemingly at home in it’s new West End venue. Utilizing Aaron Samuels football consultancy, the three young actors display incredible athleticism and wonderfully adept football skills throughout the performance adding to the realism of the piece. Tyrell William’s dialogue is fast-paced and extremely witty, offering many belly-laughs while also peppered with the occasional serious moment which leads to an electrifying sequence featuring some of the best stage combat I’ve seen directed by Kev McCurdy.
As a coming-of-age piece, Red Pitch has a subtle consistency and delivers laughs and camaraderie in folds. Offering a glimpse of upcoming black excellence in its three characters as well as its actors, Red Pitch is a touching piece of new British theatre not to be missed.
Reviewed by Stuart James
