Cable Street – Marylebone Theatre, Marylebone

Book & Lyrics: Tim Gilvin  
Director: Alex Kanefsky

Reviewer: Christine Stanton

“Electric & Empowering”

5 / 5

A stellar cast of thirteen brilliantly talented individuals put a piece of history on stage in the third iteration of Cable Street, in advance of its off-Broadway New York transfer.

The show is based on the 1936 Battle of Cable Street, an uprising against Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists. A notable moment in British history where communities and neighbours banded together, blockading their road and clashing with both the B.U.F and the police, as 100,000 communists, Irish and Jewish workers united to take a stand. While the incident the show is based on is from 90 years ago, the message and events are sadly and scarily still pertinent, easily with chilling parallels to modern day events and politics.

The focus is mainly on the stories of Irish Catholic Mairead (Lizzy-Rose Esin Kelly), Jewish boxer Sammy (Isaac Gryn) and British Ron (Barney Wilkinson), each living in the Camelot Mansions estate in East London. Ron, recently arriving from up North is struggling to find work, feeling displaced and easily influenced by the B.U.F’s promises of work and a better life for English nationals, believing the outcries that the Jewish and Irish arrivals are the cause of lack of work and rising rent in his area. Sammy is keen to build his career as a fighter, but spends too often having to fight outside of the ring, constantly being typecast and shut out from opportunities due to his background. Mairead is a talented writer, disgusted by the rise of the B.U.F and impassioned to join the communist party in attempting to stop fascism taking hold. Set on reclaiming her neighbourhood as a collaborative hub of cultures and nationalities.

The three characters at the forefront of the show balance each other out brilliantly, each with clear motivations for the choices they make (even when questionable) and ideologies they hold. Each fantastically written, they are portrayed just as well by the three impeccable leads. Esin Kelly is absolutely magnetic, her powerful stage presence empowering and engaging and her vocals beautifully performed. Gryn is an excellent Sammy, making his character charming and charismatic, performing his often rapped musical numbers in a Hamilton x Jamie T style, which works impressively well and fits the material excellently. Wilkinson’s character has the most tumultuous transformation throughout the storyline, showcasing the interchanging emotions perfectly, with his rendition of Shut Me Out suitably emotive and endearing.

Joining the leads on stage are ten other wonderful performers, each performing a variety of roles – often multi-faceted in nature. For example, Jez Unwin goes from being a likeable, gentle tour guide, providing the history of Cable Street in a present day setting during a walking tour, to Sammy’s father Yitzah, before making a hasty transformation into one of the violent, outspoken leaders of the B.U.F. Debbie Chazen and Ethan Pascal Peters also play a variety of roles (often on conflicting sides), deftly switching accents and mannerisms without missing a beat, with the entire cast playing each role with ease.

The score is catchy and enjoyable, strong numbers that are successful in moving the plot forward. As well as individual songs, it also frequently features full cast contribution, most notably in the electric ‘No Pasarán’ that fizzes with energy and excitement. Yoav Segal’s set design ensures easy movement around the stage, with an impressive, unexpected addition of a police horse shown in the second half during the clashes.

Hugely impressive within every aspect – Cable Street is fantastic show that hopefully has a long life ahead of it, cleverly and clearly portraying an integral moment in British history, but also telling a timely, important tale that is sadly relevant even this many years later.

Runs until 28th February 2026