'Floella Benjamin's Coming to England is a musical we should all see'

With just a few sentences, the audience at MAST Studio 1 in Southampton is transported back to the 1970s, with Floella Benjamin, portrayed by the brilliant Julene Robinson, in a bright-coloured jumper ready to introduce the show. 

Coming to England is Floella Benjamin's autobiography which tells her story of moving from Trinidad to England when she was just 10 years old. 

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England isn't the positive land Floella hoped for (Image: Mark Senior / Coming to England)  The family-friendly musical is joyous, fun, and colourful. But it doesn't shy away from the racism and rejection that Floella experienced when she arrived in England in the 1960s.

For young Floella, life is full of happiness, love, and joy with her five siblings and parents in bright, colourful Trinidad. But that all changed when Floella's father is convinced by the adverts asking people to move and help rebuild Britain.

Floella is left behind with her two brothers and sister, as her father leaves for England alone, followed by her mother and two younger siblings. From here the bright shining joy dims, as we are told of the abuse the four children suffered from their foster parents until Floella's parents could afford to bring them to England. 

In Trinidad, Floella has been taught that England is a land of opportunity, hope and glory. But the reality was far from what Floella had hoped for. 

@megan_stanley_ Floella Benjamin took to the stage in Southampton after the press night of Coming To England 👏 #ComingToEngland #windrushgeneration #Southamptom #musical #theatre #floellabenjamin ♬ original sound - Megan Stanley

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The musical doesn't shy away from the shameful truths of how the English society failed to welcome families like Floella's. She is bullied in school, yelled at in the street, treated horribly by neighbours and ignored in shops. 

While England is grey and wet, the show, much like Floella herself, is determined to remain upbeat, as we see Floella use her positivity and intelligence to overcome those who bully.

Her family, who began life in Britain in one room, eventually buy a house in Beckenham and stay above the horrid comments from neighbours. All of Floella's siblings grow up to be successful, and Floella herself is an actress, singer, presenter, author and politician. 

Floella Benjamin took to the stage in Southampton (Image: Newsquest) Speaking to the crowd after the curtain call, Floella, who is now 75, took to the stage to thank the cast and crew, and paid tribute to her parents. 

She said: "I want to thank the theatre for putting on the show and making sure the people of Southampton get to see that they were very much part of the story at the very beginning. I love Southampton, it was the first part of England I saw.

"Coming to England is a story of how you face adversity with a smile, how you never believe what people say to you, if they try to put you down you say 'ain't no stopping me now'.

"When I Came to England, and we had to suffer violence, white people who saw me beaten up turned their heads. Luckily, during the riots recently it was white people who came out and said not in our city, not in our towns. We have to do this together if we want children to grow up in a world that is all-embracing.

The musical is determined to be positive (Image: Mark Senior / Coming to England) "We came to England thinking we belonged, and we were rejected. We are finding our place in this world, and we are making sure our children and our grandchildren feel as if they belong in this country too because we helped rebuild Britain and we're still helping to make Britain great."

The musical tackles important subjects that are, unfortunately, still prominent in British society today. They are important conversations we should still be having, and are brought to the stage appropriately for the children in the audience.

Coming to England is musical for all ages, and is an important story we all need to hear,  regardless of where we come from. 

Floella Benjamin's Coming to England is on at MAST until Saturday, October 26. For more information and tickets go to the Mayflower website or call 02380 711811.