

National Theatre Live: Small Island
Synopsis
Embark on a journey from Jamaica to Britain, through the Second World War to 1948 – the year the HMT Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury, England. The play follows three intricately connected stories. Hortense yearns for a new life away from rural Jamaica, Gilbert dreams of becoming a lawyer, and Queenie longs to escape her Lincolnshire roots.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official Trailer | Small Island - Stage Adaptation | National Theatre at HomeOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-06-11
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Leah Harvey
Hortense Roberts
Aisling Loftus
Queenie Buxton
Gershwyn Eustache Jnr
Gilbert Joseph
CJ Beckford
Michael Roberts
Paul Bentall
Jacqueline Boatswain
Phoebe Frances Brown
Chereen Buckley
Cavan Clarke
Shiloh Coke
Beatie Edney
Adam Ewan
David Fielder
Amy Forrest
John Hastings
Stephanie Jacob
Sandra James-Young
Natey Jones
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 18, 2020
VOD & Digital Platforms
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Rufus Norris
- Screenplay & Story
- Helen Edmundson
- Original Title
- National Theatre Live: Small Island
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 55m
- Production Studios
- National Theatre
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Rufus Norris
Helen Edmundson, Andrea Levy
Department Leadership Roster
Helen Edmundson
Screenplay
Rufus Norris
Director
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for National Theatre Live: Small Island.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring National Theatre Live: Small Island.
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National Theatre Live
All productions released by National Theatre Live, UK – either done directly by the Royal National Theatre or other UK venues/producers. [**NationalTheatre.org.uk**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) / [**NTLive.com**](https://www.ntlive.com) / [**NTatHome.com**](https://www.ntathome.com) (for its US equivalent, see [**BroadwayHD**](https://www.tmdb.org/company/103196-broadwayhd) and site [**BroadwayHD.com**](https://www.broadwayhd.com).) Some productions were filmed _solely_ for their paid streaming channel "National Theatre at Home", and were branded without the "National Theatre Live" posters which those that also screened in cinemas typically got posters with. (plus: There was a 2009 BBC TV series entry titled "National Theatre Live" with the first five filmed productions that featured additional commentary, at #280519, but this was deleted by a mod!) ______________________________________________________________________ • **2024.05.09.Thu: Plays 1-100** - [**nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25**](https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/national-theatre-live-100-plays-in-cinemas-1-25) _"National Theatre Live broadcast its 100th title, Nye, live from the Olivier stage. Now buckle up as we’re going to take you on a journey through all 100 NT Lives (you heard that right). From our first to our most recent, join us to recount all the incredible plays that have made it from the stage to the screen – with some fun facts thrown in for good measure!"_ ______________________________________________________________________ **What is National Theatre Live (NTL) & National Theatre at Home (NTaH)?** ([**Wikipedia**](https://w.wiki/9grq)) National Theatre Live is an initiative from the National Theatre (formerly "Royal National Theatre") in London, who record their own plays (and also may do/did some live broadcasts to cinemas too) and other non-National Theatre productions from selected indie/West-End theatre plays in London and beyond in the UK (eg. Chichester, et al.). Unless it's a live cinema viewing, typically once the live theatre run has ended these are then shown in cinemas. NTL cinema audiences are able to view play recordings at cinema screenings in the UK and globally (eg. Australia, Taiwan, et al.), with cinema releases either concurrently (or after an initial cinema release) also released on their paid streaming service National Theatre at Home. NTaH launched in 2020 offering access to over 100 productions, with new titles added monthly. All titles include captions, over 90% available with Audio Description, and a selection available in British Sign Language (BSL). Reaching theatre audiences globally, streaming to over 184 countries, a majority of audiences having never visited the National Theatre's South Bank home, and is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 2026 research showed 99% of NTaH's audiences are outside London, with over 60% saying filmed theatre options support wider discoverability and increased overall theatre experiences.
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Frequently Asked Questions About National Theatre Live: Small Island
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is National Theatre Live: Small Island about?
Embark on a journey from Jamaica to Britain, through the Second World War to 1948 – the year the HMT Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury, England. The play follows three intricately connected stories. Hortense yearns for a new life away from rural Jamaica, Gilbert dreams of becoming a lawyer, and Queenie longs to escape her Lincolnshire roots.
Who directed National Theatre Live: Small Island?
National Theatre Live: Small Island was directed by Rufus Norris.
Who stars in National Theatre Live: Small Island?
The principal cast of National Theatre Live: Small Island includes Leah Harvey, Aisling Loftus, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr, CJ Beckford, Paul Bentall.
When was National Theatre Live: Small Island released and how long is it?
National Theatre Live: Small Island was released in 2019 with a total runtime of 2h 55m.
Is National Theatre Live: Small Island based on a book or true story?
National Theatre Live: Small Island is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Andrea Levy".
What is the age rating and content advisory for National Theatre Live: Small Island?
National Theatre Live: Small Island holds official age classifications: GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.).




















