Exposed brick walls, a bronzed backdrop bathed in amber light, a wooden table and two chairs with glasses and dominoes set on top. The stark stage reminiscent of a waiting room, pregnant with memories waiting to be recalled and shared.
An abrupt start – darkness descends – the sound system jolts into action, alerting our senses. Like stars hung in a constellation – the backdrop illuminates the stage – highlighting Lorna Gee aka Sutara Gayle. We wait for her odyssey to unfold and listen intently to Gee’s stories of suppressed identity, familial abuse, religious fervour, her search for spirituality and safety in her sexuality, all while unearthing her purpose.
Like the soundscape of drums, heavy with propulsive baselines, The Legends of Them ‘hits different’. A self-penned, one woman performance, where Gee morphs effortlessly and emotionally, from her younger self to her siblings, and persons that have heavily impacted her life.
Her journey starts when she wins best pioneer at a Reggae awards; in doing so she hopes to emulate the careers of the recording artists that she admires; Gee authentically embodies the essence of the legends through her physical, and vocal performance. However, Instead of reaching her goal, she spirals downwards descending into drugs and incarceration.
Through visceral and thought provoking scenes The Legends of Them explores the intersection between religion and spirituality. Gee constantly torn between her mother’s Christian faith and her own search for a liberated body, mind and spirit.
Gee’s depiction of her life is brave, vulnerable, raw and at times darkly humorous. The 13-year-old Lorna, distrustful of the education system and the professionals that are supposed to care for her, is sent up to fail, not given the emotional tools to succeed, and is in free fall. She shows deep resignation for her time spent at school, her treatment in foster care, and her banal experience with retail and service work. Just like the caged bird – she knows deep down she was created to sing and be heard.
Gee’s portrayal of her mother is stoic, devout and resilient; despite her mother’s own trials and tribulations she seeks safety and financial security for her children. Sundays are for church, and singing should only be used to praise god – despite Gee’s need to express herself secularly. Coming from Jamaican parents, the references and language depicted resonate with my own story of trying to find home in a world split by cultural divides.
The level of abuse in Gee’s life is astounding, as is the harrowing event metered out on her sister, which fuelled emotions – sparking the Brixton riots. Events which echoes her own thoughts, as she says, ‘…bad things happen in the dark’.
Heavily prevalent in The Legends of Them is the scourge on mental health. The issues of low self-esteem, fear of failure, loss of purpose, trauma and numbness are truly faced when Gee’s Brother Mooji intervenes. Her brother is represented via sonorous voiceovers and Tyler Forward’s effective projections. Mooji consoles and counsels Gee to surrender to stillness: as finding stillness gives us “ the power to remember or know things’.
In order to anchor and stabilise her own mental state, Gee seeks to ground herself in her ancestral roots. She teaches the audience about Nanny of the Maroons, an enslaved West African Queen, ripped from her homeland and brought to the Blue Mountains of Jamaica by colonisers. She eventually escaped and emancipated her people. Strong roots connected a community and brought about active change, which is echoed in Gee’s own story of triumph over trauma.
The nuanced direction by Jo McInnes, the immersive sound scape and evocative music by Elena Pena and Christella Litras are to be applauded. So too Joshie Harriette’s lighting – which brings an intense focus to the powerful scenes depicted. The imposing set is a massive altar-like sound system; resembling another character within Gee’s life story. The combined creative elements in this gripping piece are cohesive and compliment the mighty weight of Gee’s performance.
Lorna Gee rises above the audience like a phoenix, reborn from the ashes of a tumultuous life – she reclaims her voice, her expression, and is finally liberated!
The Legends of Them, like a spiritual travelogue, shows how mindful actions and finding one’s inner flow can assist in finding stillness, peace, and eventually support in reigniting one’s spirit. The takeaway for me is to acknowledge the past while creating a new identity – especially when the old one does not serve.
A tour de force.
Need to know : The Legends of Them plays at the Royal Court until 21 Dec 2024
