Retrograde, now playing at the Apollo Theatre, transports audiences to 1950s Hollywood, a world where fame collides with racism. In this gripping drama, writer Ryan Calais Cameron pulls back the curtain of Tinseltown to reveal a battle over identity, integrity and the price of compromise. Based on a fictionalised account of a pivotal moment in the life of Hollywood legend Sidney Poitier, the play delivers a tense and thought-provoking exploration of ambition, racism and the sacrifices necessary to achieve success.
Sidney Poitier was a trailblazing Bahamian-American actor, director and activist who used his talent and platform to have a significant impact on both the film industry and society as a whole. In Retrograde, Ivanno Jeremiah portrays a young Poitier on the verge of a career-defining breakthrough. Invited to an NBC studio office to sign a contract to star in a major prime-time television series written by his friend Bobby (Oliver Johnstone), he meets NBC’s lawyer, Mr Parks (Stanley Townsend).
What begins as a warm and light-hearted meeting quickly takes a sinister turn when Parks presents an ultimatum: before securing the role, Poitier must sign a loyalty oath to America and publicly denounce his friend, Paul Robeson, a fellow actor and prominent civil rights activist. Suddenly, Poitier faces an agonising moral dilemma of betraying his principles for career success or standing his ground and risk being blacklisted from the industry.
Ivanno Jeremiah embodies Sidney Poitier with remarkable depth, exuding a quiet gravitas as he navigates the character’s inner turmoil beneath a composed exterior. He particularly excels in the play’s quieter moments where Poitier’s intelligence and resolve are shown through subtle gestures such as an expression of defiance in his face, the tightening of his jaw as he suppresses his anger or the tears welling in his eyes that reveal the depth of his convictions.
Stanley Townsend as the manipulative Mr Parks is a formidable adversary with his booming voice and sly charm laced with menace. He captures the essence of the era’s racist power brokers with chilling authenticity. Meanwhile, Oliver Johnstone’s Bobby injects a nervous energy into the trio, his uneasy complicity in Parks’ scheme clashing with his genuine affection for Poitier. The interplay between the three actors sparkles and their verbal sparring heightens the play’s tension, drawing the audience into the unfolding drama.
Ryan Calais Cameron’s script is sharp and incisive, vividly capturing the era’s language and societal tensions. The dialogue is crisp and engaging and the rapid-fire exchanges, laced with humour, are reminiscent of that found in many films from that era. Cameron carefully weaves historical context into the narrative, illuminating the oppressive climate of McCarthy-era America and the unique struggles faced by black artists like Poitier.
Under Amit Sharma’s direction, Retrograde is a taut and compelling drama, balancing weighty themes with moments of levity and humanity. The play maintains a steady rhythm and its slow-burning tension escalates as Poitier’s predicament deepens. Sharma’s use of silence at key moments is particularly powerful, amplifying Poitier’s inner turmoil as he grapples with his agonising decision.
Retrograde is a powerful and thought-provoking production that sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of Sidney Poitier’s early career. This is not the poised and confident Poitier of his Hollywood prime, but a younger man, less assured and more conflicted, yet carrying the innate decency that would define his legacy. More than just a tribute to Poitier’s enduring influence, Retrograde also prompts audiences to reflect on the persistent realities of racism and the moral complexities of integrity in the face of systemic oppression. With themes as relevant today as they were in the 1950s, Retrograde is a gripping and essential production.
NEED TO KNOW: Retrograde plays at Apollo Theatre until 14 June 2025 | See listing
- Exclusive behind the scenes of Ryan Calais Cameron’s Retrograde
- Read our 2023 review of Retrograde
- Ivanno Jeremiah – interview
