Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Tuesday 10 June at 2pm The Sainsbury Theatre, LAMDA
Running Time: 2 hours and 35 minutes including interval
Content warnings: Contains themes of racism, animal death in a religious ceremony, attempted suicide, self-harm and flashing lights. Use of explicit language, blood and weapons.
The play also depicts the long-term ongoing impact of slavery on the lives of African Americans.
• You are welcome to leave and re-enter from the theatre as you need.
• There is a break-out area available called the Mezzanine
• House lighting is on low throughout, never going to full black-out.
• Loud noises are reduced.
• No strobe lighting is used.
• You are welcome to react to the show however you want.
• At the end of this document is a show synopsis and sensory guide .
Here is a guide to sensory information symbols in this document:
Indicates potentially loud or sudden noises
Indicates bright or sudden lighting changes
Indicates a sad or potentially distressing scene
Indicates fighting, or use of guns/weapons
Indicates audience participation
When you arrive at LAMDA, the box office is to your right. You should pick up your ticket here, using your name.
Toilets are located right next to box office.
LAMDA staff will be wearing LAMDA branded T-Shirts or lanyards. If you need any assistance whilst in the building, please ask them.
This is the Theatre Foyer. You may be asked to wait here until the house is open.
You will be shown how to get to the Sainsbury Theatre by an usher.
This performance will take place in the Sainsbury Theatre.
This is the entrance.
When you enter, an Usher will take your ticket from you.
You can sit in any seat. The house lights will stay on low throughout the show.
There is a break-out space called ‘The Rittner Room’ which you are welcome to use at any point during your visit. It can be accessed via the stairs or lift in the main entrance foyer.
If you aren’t sure about any of this information during your visit please ask an usher or anybody wearing a lanyard.
Before the show begins, the actors will introduce themselves and the characters they are playing.
The lights in the theatre will dim and she show will start. You can leave and re-enter if you need to through the doors you came in through.
At the end of the show the actors will come on and bow. You are welcome to clap at this point if you would like.
Mattie Campbell REBECCA MATUNDU
Molly Cunningham
CARYS MURRAY
Molly Cunningham
CARYS MURRAY
Zonia Loomis GEOVANNA LEWIN-ROWE
Reuben Mercer KENNDRICK HORTON
Below is a brief synopsis of the play to aid in contextualizing the following sensory guide.
When Harold Loomis arrives at a black Pittsburgh boardinghouse after seven years' impressed labor on Joe Turner's chain gang, he is a free man--in body. But the scars of his enslavement and a sense of inescapable alienation oppress his spirit still, and the seemingly hospitable rooming house seethes with tension and distrust in the presence of this tormented stranger. Loomis is looking for the wife he left behind, believing that she can help him reclaim his old identity. But through his encounters with the other residents he begins to realize that what he really seeks is his rightful place in a new world--and it will take more than the skill of the local "People Finder" to discover it.
This jazz-influenced drama is a moving narrative of African-American experience in the 20th century.
Scene 1
As Bertha is sorting through her laundry basket there is strong language including the ‘n-word’
After Seth enters with pots and pans he drops them
Scene 2
As Reuben runs around Zonia there is thunder, lighting and flashes of light followed by a near blackout
Scene 3
During Selig and Loomis’ conversation they discuss slavery
Scene 4 No distressing content
Scene 5
The cast begin dancing and whooping round a table which is stopped by Loomis banging on the table
Loomis then suddenly begins speaking in ‘tongues’ which is an unknown language - like a possession
He then falls back on the floor as if he has been pushed
There is a rumbling noise with backing vocals which builds a lot of tension
Loomis once up then falls on his back again
A thumping noise begins and gets gradually louder
Loomis tries to stand up but is unable to Act 1 ends with a blackout
Interval (15 minutes)------
Scene 1
No distressing content
Scene 2
After Loomis stops eating Bynum grabs him violently by the shoulders
Scene 3
No distressing content
Scene 4
No distressing content
Scene 5
After the women hug in one big embrace there is tense music and Loomis pulls out a knife on Bynum
Both Loomis and Martha then shout over each other
Loomis throws her bible on the floor
Loomis then slashes his chest with the knife
During the end people will clap and may stand up, cheer or shout to tell the actors they did a good job.