Omeros, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ★★★★★

We loved this fusion of poetry and performance last year at the Sam Wanamaker Theatre and now  Dereck Walcott’s Nobel Prize-winning epic poem, Omeros returns for 2015.

This accomplished 1990s narrative, from one of the most influential contemporary poets, captures Walcott’s native land of St Lucia and weaves between continents exploring romance and cultural estrangement. 

The captivating Caribbean setting comes to life with live music, complimenting the striking rhythm of Walcott’s terza rims (the three line form made iconic by Dante’s Divine Comedy). Homeric influence shapes the narrative as the ancient characters are recast in a contemporary West Indies setting: Achille is a fisherman, who is locked into a rivalry with Hector the taxi driver over Helen the housemaid. This knotty romance is entwined with a tale of cultural adjustment (and strains of Walcott’s own experience) as a local couple attempt to come to terms with the changing face of St Lucia following British colonisation.

Joseph Marcell, known for his long-standing role in hit TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and more recently the lead role in the Globe’s touring production of King Lear, stars alongside Jade Anouka. Jade has established herself as a budding Globe veteran, with acclaimed roles in 2011’s Hamlet and 2009’s Love’s Labour’s Lost.

They both shine in this striking yet simple staging of Derek Walcott's seminal poem. The intimate setting of the Sam Wanamaker theatre and the music of Tayo Akinbode are the perfect backdrop to this poetic masterpiece. Omeros will take you across the ocean, to the shore of the island of Santa Lucia, into the lives of Achille, Hector, Helen and Philoctet. A must see.