Leave Taking

In North London, Del and Viv are soul-sick. Del doesn’t want to be at home; staying out late – 3 p.m.-the-next-day late – is more her thing. Viv scours her schoolbooks trying to find a trace of herself between their lines. When Enid takes her daughters to the local obeah woman for some traditional Caribbean soul-healing, secrets are spilled. There’s no turning back for Del, Viv and Enid as they negotiate the frictions between their countries and cultures. Two generations. Three incredible women. First produced in 1987 at Liverpool Playhouse, the play won Winsome Pinnock the George Devine Award in 1991.

Users can access materials from the National Theatre’s 1994 production by booking to come in to the National Theatre Archive. An extract of the play can be listened to here.