The Suit

It’s the 1950s and in Sofiatown, a poor township of Johannesburg in South Africa, Philemon and his wife Matilda live under the cloud of an oppressive Apartheid regime.
All around them are other families living in equally cramped conditions, yet despite this there is plenty of music, friendship and laughter.
A seemingly happy and contented couple, Matilda looks after the house and Philemon, her devoted husband, goes to work.
However, things go wrong when Philemon is told by a friend that his wife is having an affair.
He leaves work and bursts in on the couple. The man leaves in panic in only his underpants, leaving his suit behind.
Utterly devastated and wondering how on earth his wife could do such a thing, Philemon seeks revenge. And the suit left behind gives him a cruel idea. He tells Matilda she must look after the suit as though it were an honoured guest – even feeding it, looking after it, talking to it and making sure sleeps in their room. He even forces her to take it on walks about the town.
Beautifully acted the story takes the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions and includes music some of it traditional African, with Nonhlanhla Kheswa (Matilda) able to show off her beautiful voice.
The three musicians add to the story telling and are used very effectively as extras in some of the scenes.
Utterly spellbinding, the performances of William Nadylam as Philemon and Nonhlanhla Kheswa (Matilda) are superb.

Four stars
The Suit is on at the Young Vic, The Cut, Waterloo, until June 16.
Tickets cost from £10.
Call the box office on 020 7922 2922