Princess & The Hustler

The existence of an employment colour bar in the early 1960's is shameful and requires exposure through any means. This play attempts to put it in the context of the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963/4 which eventually cause a change in attitude and helped pave the way for later equality legislation.

Told through one, somewhat dysfunctional, family I felt we learned more about them and not so much about the boycott and the situation itself which felt a little like the agricultural information slots on The Archers rather than an organic part of the families interactions. That, and a slightly under-rehearsed feeling to the production left me more detached than I wanted to be.

I'm hoping that the production settles in - it is an important piece with a real tale to tell but on the night I saw it it wasn't quite there yet.