A piece of driftwood with textured bark and weathered surface, resting on sandy beach with gentle waves.
A white cat named Ruby sits on driftwood, surrounded by natural textures and soft lighting.
Cat White (Ruby). Photo by Marc Brenner.
Martins Imhangbe and Cat White perform on stage, surrounded by dramatic lighting and a textured backdrop.
Martins Imhangbe (Diamond) and Cat White (Ruby). Photo by Marc Brenner.
Shane David-Joseph gestures enthusiastically while wearing a light-coloured uniform, with a wooden statue in the background.
Shane David-Joseph (Seldom). Photo by Marc Brenner.
Shane David-Joseph, Ellen Thomas, and Cat White pose together, smiling, in a theatre setting.
Shane David-Joseph (Seldom), Ellen Thomas (Pearl) and Cat White (Ruby). Photo by Marc Brenner.
Roger Ringrose and Ziggy Heath as characters in Driftwood, standing in a grand mansion interior.
Roger Ringrose (Mansion) and Ziggy Heath (Tom). Photo by Marc Brenner.
Martins Imhangbe as Diamond stands confidently, wearing a vibrant costume, against a textured wooden backdrop.
Martins Imhangbe (Diamond). Photo by Marc Brenner.
Ziggy Heath as Tom stands on stage, wearing a dark suit, with dramatic lighting and a wooden backdrop.
Ziggy Heath (Tom). Photo by Marc Brenner.
Ellen Thomas performs in "Driftwood," surrounded by textured driftwood props and a softly lit stage backdrop.
Ellen Thomas (Pearl). Photo by Marc Brenner.

Driftwood

Venue

Kiln Theatre

Dis is my home. My whole life. My history here. And de only future I go have is here.

As colonial Trinidad advances towards political independence, a downtown Port of Spain gentlemen’s club becomes entangled in a different kind of custody battle.

ALMA promises its guests a comfortable environment to relax and indulge. Owned by Englishman Mansion, it’s governed by Pearl and coveted by beguiling Ruby.

Then Diamond drifts in. His impetuous deal with a corrupt US Marine imperils ALMA, and all their lives are collateral damage. One wrong move and everything could shatter.

Driftwood is the first play from Martina Laird. Directed by Chichester Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Justin Audibert and set in 1950s Caribbean, it’s a deeply evocative story of self-determination and the search for family and belonging

Closing

04/07/2026

Running Time

2h30, inc. interval

Genre

Drama, Plays

Age & Content

14+

Please Note:

This production contains loud music, flashing lights, smoking, stage blood & gun shots, depictions of rape, violence, death & incest, strong and discriminatory language used throughout.

Cast:

Shane David-Joseph as

Seldom

Ziggy Heath as

Tom

Martins Imhangbe as

Diamond

Roger Ringrose as

Mansion

Ellen Thomas as

Pearl

Cat White as

Ruby

Creative:

Writer -

Martina Laird

Director -

Justin Audibert

No accessibility performances are currently scheduled for this show.