However this is a night of spectacle rather than words. With such a tight ensemble piece it would be unfair to single out individual performers. The dancing and singing are powerful and continuous. The staging makes the most of the minimal set. The costumes are dazzling as is the speed with which they are changed. The live band holds the piece together with music that is continuous and driving. However some of the songs are not quite the anthems they aspire to be. 

The pace only slackens for the History Lesson on early Haiti which attempts to explain how such a fertile land produced such poisonous social inequalities. But it is not very illuminating and feels like padding. Though at least it has a great puppet who disappears all too soon leaving us wanting more, even though he is a monster. It might be more helpful to understand the Haitian Voodoo deities who play an active part in the plot.

Advisory from the theatre: Please note that this production of Once On This Island contains scenes which some may find upsetting involving racism and racial trauma, colourism, death by suicide and sexual abuse.