Red Pitch @ Sohoplace, London

A charming three-hander about young men, their friendship, hopes, dreams and ambitions. Although publicised as another Dear England/Death of England, this drama is much sweeter. More along the lines of For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy in thoughtful style and styling, yet very charming. This is down to the energetic writing of Tyrell Williams and the three central characters portrayed by Kedar Williams-Stirling (Bilal), Emeka Sesay (Joey) and Francis Lovehall (Omz). Deeply joyful, you will leave with your heart warmed.

Artfully staged as a pitch and cage fencing, we are part of the game, and there is some charming audience interaction. The football pitch ‘Red Pitch’ is a fourth silent character as the place where the friends meet, chat, work and play. As the three characters work out their futures, dream, hope, care and support each other — and annoy each other — we follow them, through football trials, gentrification and area ‘improvement’, love and hard work. Like Roy Williams, the words are everything here — and Tyrell Williams has a wonderful talent with them. We join the conversations, listen in and root for them.

I’m not sure the gentrification theme is fully realised, but the portrayal of a young carer is beautifully and tenderly done. We come away with a strong sense of place and people — and wanting to find a chicken shop asap. There is a crisis between the three at one point — which I wish hadn’t been there, as it felt purely for dramatic tension. Although the way that they forgive each other is lovely — and the friendships restored. I just wanted to see more of their friendship growing and developing — and changing over time as some move away — and some stay.

As with For Black Boys, we have black men (this time young and urban working-class) speaking eloquently, thoughtfully, emotionally, engagingly, compellingly— I love the depth of their voices and characters, and their care for and pride in their home, their ambitions for it and themselves. There’s also a nice moment celebrating the joy of talking to a girl rather than just seeing her as a body. Smashing stereotypes and prejudices and conjuring up joy and delight, go and see this play!

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