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Retrograde Tickets

In the Golden Age of Hollywood, Sidney Poitier is offered his dreams...but at what cost?

This production is recommended for ages 14+

Performance dates

8 March - 14 June 2025

Run time 1hr 40mins (no interval)

Includes interval

  • Show info
  • Performance Times
  • Accessibility

Retrograde London tickets 

Retrograde transfers to London’s West End Following a critically acclaimed season at the Kiln Theatre.  Created by For Black Boys writer Ryan Calais Cameron, the explosive new show takes a reflective and powerful look into the difficulties of identity, the power of resilience and the wisdom of integrity. Centred around a Black actor’s journey to stardom during the 1950s, Retrograde demonstrates the struggles he faces and the dark temptations that challenge his sense of self. Book your official tickets to Retrograde at the Apollo Theatre today.

About Retrograde

It is the Golden Age of Hollywood and more important, the height of censorship against minorities. 28-year-old Sidney Poitier is not yet the oscar winning, activist king that we know him to have been, in fact in this true story, he is simply a young man dreaming of his first major motion picture. Behind closed doors, a contract is offered that would make his dreams come true, but at what cost? Will Sidney stay true to his inner being or will he succumb to the Hollywood machine?

Facts and critical acclaim

  • ‘Toxicity meets integrity in exceptional Sidney Poitier drama’ - The Guardian
  • Playwright, Ryan Calais Cameron, has been hailed a ‘rising star’ by Time Out, with his previous play, For Black Boys.. winning a Stage Debut Award, and an Olivier Nomination.  
  • Ivanno Jeremiah reprises his ‘tremendous’ performance as Sidney Poitier. He is best known for his starring role in Channel 4’s Humans and the fan favourite episode of Black Mirror, Shut Up and Dance.

  

Retrograde Cast

  • Sidney Poitier - Ivanno Jeremiah
  • Mr Parks - Stanley Townsend 
  • Bobby - Oliver Johnstone

 

Retrograde Creatives

  • Writer - Ryan Calais Cameron
  • Director - Amit Sharma
  • Set and Costume Designer - Frankie Bradshaw
  • Lighting Designer - Amy Mae
  • Sound Designer - Beth Duke
  • Casting Director - Juliet Horsley

Upcoming Performance Times

Saturday8 March 2025
Monday10 March 2025
Tuesday11 March 2025
Wednesday12 March 2025
Thursday13 March 2025
Friday14 March 2025
Saturday15 March 2025
19:30
19:30
19:30
19:30
19:30
19:30
14:30

Performance Months

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Content

This production contains explicit language and racial slurs as well as themes of Racism and McCarthyism.

Special notes

All performances of Retrograde will be audio described. Please note: you will need to pre-book a headset for the date of your performance if you desire one.

There will be a post show talk for ticket holders of the performance on Tuesday 2 May, 7.30pm

Access

BSL: Friday 18th April, 7.30pm. Captioned: Saturday 26th April, 2.30pm. Audio Described: Saturday 3rd May, 7.30pm.

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