Black masculinity rarely takes centre stage, but Sophia Griffins’ debut play After Sunday turns this on its head with a moving, humorous, and deeply authentic portrayal of three men confronting their pasts and their pain.
Set in a secure psychiatric hospital, three Black men – Ty (Corey Weekes), Leroy (David Webber), and Daniel (Darrel Bailey) – have been transferred from prison due to their mental health needs. Here, they attend a Sunday Caribbean cookery class run by compassionate occupational therapist Naomi (Aimée Powell), whose warmth, music, and recipes offer them a fragile sense of normality. Vincent, the absent fourth member of the class looms large over their sessions, his story becoming a quiet but powerful presence throughout.
Each of the male leads delivers an exceptional, layered performance. Corey Weekes captures Ty’s restless energy and bravado with effortless charisma, revealing flickers of vulnerability beneath his swagger. Darrel Bailey’s Daniel is touching and restrained, a man tentatively piecing together hope and the dream of reuniting with his family.
As the elder Jamaican statesman Leroy, David Webber is magnetic; his gentle authority and aching dignity ground the play. A late monologue of his moves the audience to silence and tears, an extraordinary moment of stillness and truth. Together, the trio create an authentic chemistry that feels lived-in and real, their banter and tension perfectly balancing humour with heartbreak.
Powell’s Naomi is the quiet heartbeat of the piece, understated yet powerful, embodying the compassion and frustration of a woman trying to nurture healing within a system that often refuses to change. Her belief that “food is therapy” becomes the show’s emotional core, as music (Beres Hammond’s I Feel Good and Cameo’s Candy), laughter, and the aroma of fried plantain fill the space with echoes of home and belonging.
Griffins’ writing is both witty and unflinching. She explores Black men’s mental health with tenderness and nuance, never resorting to stereotypes. We witness how confinement amplifies grief, how small misunderstandings can erupt into chaos, and how redemption begins with self-forgiveness. Originally produced by the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, After Sunday is beautifully staged, rich with Caribbean culture and rhythm, and perfectly timed for Men’s Mental Health Month.
Powerful and poignant, After Sunday is a triumph of storytelling and performance. The creative crew and cast capture the beauty and fragility of Black men – complex, flawed, and learning to heal.
NEED TO KNOW: After Sunday plays at Bush Theatre until 20 Dec 2025 | See listing
