“For the first time in my life, everything was silent”
A memory: reggae pioneer Sutara Gayle – AKA Lorna Gee – hears her radio debut from Holloway Prison. Another: she’s engulfed in the Brixton uprising sparked by the police shooting of her sister. And now she’s here, at a silent retreat, seeking spiritual guidance from her brother Mooji and ancestor Nanny of the Maroons, and a moment of transcendence.
Powered by high-octane musical numbers and a virtuoso performance, The Legends of Them is a breath-taking, roof-raising chronicle of Sutara’s singular, extraordinary life – and the legends that have guided her.
Absorbing and visceral”
★★★★★ The Stage
A show that plays to your heart”
★★★★ The Times
A tour-de-force”
★★★★ Afridiziak
Venue
Presented by
Hackney Showroom in association with Brixton House and Royal Court Theatre
Written by
Sutara Gayle
Directed by
Jo McInnes
Price
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Access Performances
Captioned: Sat 4 Oct at 7.45pm (captioned by Carolyn Smith)
Running Time
Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes, with no interval.
Age Guidance
14+
Please note, no under 5s will be admitted to the auditorium.
Content Advice
Please note, this production contains references to racism, sexual assault & drugs misuse.
Production Photos
Cast & Creatives
Writer/Performer
Sutara Gayle
Sutara Gayle
Sutara Gayle also known as Lorna Gee, is a British-Jamaican actress with a wealth of credits spanning the last 3 decades across drama & comedy.
Recent TV credits include: Alex Wheatle’s Crongton (BBC), Supacell (Netflix), Black Cake (Hulu), Magpie Murders (Britbox/BBC). She has appeared in a number of critically acclaimed BBC shows such Ghosts, Silent Witness, the Jimmy McGovern BAFTA nominated drama Anthony and played Linda in Steve McQueen’s Golden Globe winning Small Axe.
Her theatre credits include: Paradise (National Theatre), Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Aldwych Theatre), A Tale of Two Cities (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Guys and Dolls (Savoy Theatre and UK tour), and At the Table and Almost Nothing (Royal Court Theatre).
Her film credits include: Viral, Anthony, Carmilla, A Caribbean Dream, SuperBob, The Dark Night and Run Fatboy Run.
As Lorna Gee, she is the 2012 BEFFTA and HiCrEc award winner for outstanding contribution to reggae music. The 1985 smash hit ‘Gotta Find a Way’ placed her at the top of the Reggae charts for 6 weeks for which she received recognition with two BBC Radio London Reggae Awards for Best Female Artist 1985 and 1986. Lorna has been crowned one of the Queens of Lovers Rock with fellow singers Janet Kay and Carroll Thompson. She was presented with the prestigious Lovers Rock Gala Award for her contribution to Lovers Rock music at The Brixton Academy in 2008.
Director & Co-Creator
Jo McInnes
Jo McInnes
Jo McInnes is an actor, director and the Associate Director of Hackney Showroom. As one of the original cast in Sarah Kane’s 4:48 Psychosis, Jo appears in the 25th Anniversary Production at the RCT/Royal Court Theatre this summer.
Recent credits as a director credits include: For All The Women Who Thought They Were Mad (Hackney Showroom) The Hardest Rain (The Old Vic), 36 Phone Calls (Hampstead Theatre), Another Place (Theatre Royal Plymouth), I Can Hear You (RSC and Royal Court Theatre), Carpe Diem (National Theatre), Running on Empty (Soho Theatre), Vera, Vera, Vera, Red Bud (Royal Court Theatre), Christmas (Bush Theatre).
As an actor include: Romeo & Juliet (Almeida,) Medea (Soho Place), The Corn is Green (National Theatre); The Jungle (Old Vic, West End, St Ann’s Warehouse).
Television credits include: The Verdict.
Dramaturg & Co-Creator
Nina Lyndon
Nina Lyndon
Composer & Musical Director
Christella Litras
Christella Litras
Sound Content (2025 Edinburgh Production & Tour)
Elena Peña
Elena Peña
Lighting Designer
Joshie Harriette
Joshie Harriette
Video Designer
Daniel Batters
Daniel Batters
Costume Designer
Melissa Simon-Hartman
Melissa Simon-Hartman
Associate Directors
Martina Laird
Martina Laird
Sam Curtis Lindsay
Sam Curtis Lindsay
Production Manager
Toby Smith (The Production Family)
Toby Smith (The Production Family)
Company Stage Manager
Sunita Hinduja
Sunita Hinduja
Technical Stage Manager
Stuart Duncan
Stuart Duncan
Sound System Designer & Sound Associate* (2025 Edinburgh Production & Tour)
Sarah Victoria
Sarah Victoria
Lighting Associate & Relighter
Zoé Ritchie
Zoé Ritchie
Artwork photography by Jyoti Graziano
With thanks to Stuart Heyes, Gino Ricardo Green, Tony Gayle & Tyler Forward
Supported by Arts Council England
Developed with support from the National Theatre Generate Programme
*Based on the original Sound Design for the 2024 Royal Court production by Elena Peña