20 May 2005: Ipswich Advertiser

Friday night’s Romany Theatre Company production of Our Big Land saw a sell out audience pack the Gatacre Road auditorium, quite an achievement for a new company and a new play.

Writer Daniel Allum has weaved an epic narrative.

Director Janeena Sims uses a cast of four professional actors and four highly talented young performers to portray a vast array of characters. Aided by some stirring music by Pat Whymark and choreography by Liz Lee the many scenes and locale flow with an almost cinematic quality.

At the heart of this versatile company are commanding performances by Josephine Cooper as Oceania and Tracy Elster as Sophie. Brother and Sister Ruth and David Soanes also excel beyond their years. Richard Mainwaring among other roles, is broodingly evil as a German death camp guard.

Both communities should find interest in a story rarely told on stage in this passionate and powerful performance.

– Glen Pearce