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fiendfull's review against another edition
5.0
The Lamplighter is a play about slavery and the slave trade first written and produced in 2007 and now published with a new introduction by Kay. It reads like a multi-voiced poem with a chorus and individual stories, as a few characters relate their own and others' experiences as slaves. Interweaved with this are, as Kay discusses in the introduction, details about British involvement in the slave trade and the way in which particular cities, including Glasgow, were deeply involved, and the book ends with a list of further reading to follow up on the stories and the events from the play.
This is a powerful way of both telling specific stories about slavery and getting across a sense of the wider realities of the slave trade, both in terms of human experience and the impact upon everyday things like food (particularly sugar) and cities. The repetition and use of the chorus is particularly effective in replicating voices and getting across scale, and you can almost hear it as you read, and hear parts read in different voices. The emotion really comes across and so does the important educational element, making points about what isn't taught in school curriculums and how the slave trade can't be separated from the growth of British cities and the industrial revolution. Even people who don't typically read plays should pick this one up, as the format allows Kay to tell these different stories in an approachable, moving way.
This is a powerful way of both telling specific stories about slavery and getting across a sense of the wider realities of the slave trade, both in terms of human experience and the impact upon everyday things like food (particularly sugar) and cities. The repetition and use of the chorus is particularly effective in replicating voices and getting across scale, and you can almost hear it as you read, and hear parts read in different voices. The emotion really comes across and so does the important educational element, making points about what isn't taught in school curriculums and how the slave trade can't be separated from the growth of British cities and the industrial revolution. Even people who don't typically read plays should pick this one up, as the format allows Kay to tell these different stories in an approachable, moving way.
hannahslibrary92's review against another edition
5.0
*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Lamplighter is such a rich and beautifully written play.
It pulls you in and really shines a light on the reality of Slavery.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it.
Lamplighter is such a rich and beautifully written play.
It pulls you in and really shines a light on the reality of Slavery.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it.
vanessamcc's review against another edition
5.0
Really loved this. So much enjoyed reading Jackie Kay again -it's been too long.
I now intend to hear the radio version. Does anyone know if I can get a soundfile of it for free?
I now intend to hear the radio version. Does anyone know if I can get a soundfile of it for free?
moomalahmed's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
piperbunny's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't realise this was a play when I picked it up so I tried to visualise the speakers as I read. It is a very moving, heart-breaking and horrific read. I would love to hear the radio version or see it at the theatre. The stars reflect my opinion that plays should be watched, not read, I'm very confident this would be a five star show.
florenz's review
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I had this play as one of my readings for university. It was a powerful play on the reality of slavery in Britain, which I, like many, knew very little about. Very well written, reflective, informative and impactful. This must be very powerful on stage.
reanne13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
jesikasbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
I have had reason to read a fair few choral plays. They are some of the most powerful because they inherently underline the communal experience in a reflective and politicised manner.
Modern plays rarely do this quite as cleverly, as profoundly as their ancient counterparts in my opinion.
The Lamplighters does it perfectly. Better. Astoundingly profoundly.
This is a short work exploring the British role in and beneficiaries of the slave trade. In particular the link between Scottish slave owners and Jamaican plantations is examined in a brutal, graphic, heartbreaking way.
The poetic ability of Jackie May is incredible. She melds fiction with lines that are pure fact. She has researched the accounts of Scottish slave owners and uses them accounts pointedly and somehow, unbelievably, lyrically.
The chorus throughout this play grows in power. Its voice is overwhelming by the end. It is such a powerful way of demanding that the ignored voice no longer remains unheard. As the play progresses, the individual voices of the slave women add up more and more strongly as they recount their experiences and speak as one. They drown out the slave owner. They speak over him and undercut his account of the same situation. They do not let you believe the detached reflections of the Scottish man and make you hear the emotional, traumatised and personal African voices.
Exceptional. Read this. Especially if you, like the author and myself, feel that your education was a little too effective in teaching you how wonderful the industrial revolution in Britain was whilst simultaneously woefully, irresponsibly quiet and detached when teaching about the British role in the slave trade.
Modern plays rarely do this quite as cleverly, as profoundly as their ancient counterparts in my opinion.
The Lamplighters does it perfectly. Better. Astoundingly profoundly.
This is a short work exploring the British role in and beneficiaries of the slave trade. In particular the link between Scottish slave owners and Jamaican plantations is examined in a brutal, graphic, heartbreaking way.
The poetic ability of Jackie May is incredible. She melds fiction with lines that are pure fact. She has researched the accounts of Scottish slave owners and uses them accounts pointedly and somehow, unbelievably, lyrically.
The chorus throughout this play grows in power. Its voice is overwhelming by the end. It is such a powerful way of demanding that the ignored voice no longer remains unheard. As the play progresses, the individual voices of the slave women add up more and more strongly as they recount their experiences and speak as one. They drown out the slave owner. They speak over him and undercut his account of the same situation. They do not let you believe the detached reflections of the Scottish man and make you hear the emotional, traumatised and personal African voices.
Exceptional. Read this. Especially if you, like the author and myself, feel that your education was a little too effective in teaching you how wonderful the industrial revolution in Britain was whilst simultaneously woefully, irresponsibly quiet and detached when teaching about the British role in the slave trade.
ijustkindalikebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Jackie Kay's "The Lamplighter" takes us on a journey through the dark heart of slavery. It is both a radio and stage play and a multi-layered epic poem.
Reading this I came to the same conclusion as the author, we don't talk about this in British History enough. Told beautifully and poetically, this play is an emotional story told by four women who were held in slavery and what happened to them when they were held. Sold and used like they weren't even people, this play highlights the plight of many through the stories of a few.
The repetition, the harking back to moments in the story and the ending of this story stays with you long after you have read it. These women send a message through the story of the strength and the power these women have to do what they must do to survive and what they would do to make sure they live. The story of Anniwaa threads throughout the play and makes for a stunning conclusion, as we see her story unfold throughout.
British history in school for me was world war one, world war two, actually that's about it, but we never talk about our history of colonialism and how we became the superpower that aligned itself in Europe in the first place. This play for me would be a good place to begin when it comes that history.
heathssm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0