Leave Taking
(Author) Winsome Pinnock‘What doctor know about our illness? Just give you pills to sick you stomach and a doctor certificate. What they know about a black woman soul?’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. Winsome Pinnock's play Leave Taking is an epic story of what we leave behind in order to find home.
It premiered in 1987, and was revived at the Bush Theatre, London, in 2018, in a production directed by the Bush’s Artistic Director, Madani Younis. Winsome Pinnock has written numerous plays, including Talking in Tongues, for which she won the George Devine and Pearson Best New Play Awards. ‘The godmother of Black British playwrights’ Guardian
Winsome Pinnock
Winsome Pinnock is a British playwright known for her powerful and thought-provoking works exploring race, gender, and identity. She is considered a pioneer in Black British theatre and has made significant contributions to the representation of marginalized voices on stage.
Pinnock's most notable works include "Leave Taking," a play that delves into the complexities of family relationships and cultural identity, and "Rockets and Blue Lights," which examines the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. Her writing style is characterized by its lyrical prose, emotional depth, and nuanced exploration of social issues.
Pinnock's impact on the literary genre can be seen in her commitment to telling stories that challenge the status quo and amplify the voices of those often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Her work has inspired a new generation of playwrights and has helped to broaden the scope of British theatre.
One of Pinnock's most famous works is "Leave Taking," which premiered in 1987 and has since been hailed as a seminal piece of Black British theatre. The play has been praised for its complex characters, authentic dialogue, and poignant exploration of themes such as immigration, cultural assimilation, and intergenerational conflict.
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