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History is a thing of love in the world of Fix Up. Kwame Kwei-Armah's play, titled after a bookshop in Tottenham, temple of reverence for Black heritage, is itself testament to a London that is disappearing.
The reverence for the past is palpable in the hundred texts that create the accurate-to-the-dot set by Holly Spice. Like ever-watching totems, volumes preserving the word of great black writers observe the audience and the action alike, making the sense of loss literally tangible as the world of the play deteriorates.
Expect memorable characters and strong conflict. The bookshop is ministered by word-worshipping Brother Kiyi, a man on a mission to educate his community and a fearless faith in Black Power. Richard Bob-Semple brings the character to life seamlessly revealing his strength, compassion and vulnerability through his story arc.
Norma, fiercely portrayed by Valerie Paul, is a lady with a flair for pastiche and a highly competitive spirit. As a new landlord tries to evict Kiyi in favour of a hair supply shop, she is the one taking over the battle to protect the store and the cultural history it stands for.
Kiyi's lodger Kwesi sets the ground for the generational conflict permeating the play. This ambitious young man with more pragmatic views on what is needed to uphold Black Power, is played with unapologetic truthfulness by Kieron Mieres.
To complete the bookstore's family, the outstandingly talented Isaiah Bobb-Semple plays Carl, a cheekily stuttering young man taken under Kiyi's wings as part of his personal "care in the community" mission.
Matters get complicated when a beautiful young teacher, Alice, arrives questioning Marcus Garvey from a strong feminist perspective. Kiyi, together with the other male characters, is inescapably besotted. Jasmine Rachelle, in her second role for Tower Theatre, is both admirably steadfast and exposed in her quest to uncover past truths.
As secrets emerge and the inexorable march of urban regeneration outlines an almost inevitable end, the touching journey of the characters takes on a slight melodramatic shade.
The cast gives multidimensional performance under Landé Belo's excellent directorial debut. Kwame Kwei-Armah's play has some unforgettable characters and paints relatable situations that are both topical and tenderly reminiscent of a London that is rapidly changing.
Photography by David Sprecher
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