Indigo - musical review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Captured in an emotive whirlwind, audiences will find themselves immersed in this charming new musical, Indigo. Its heartwarming nature underlines real-world issues, sweeping the stage with a stunning blend of soulful script and a fresh vibrancy to everyday life. Dappled with humour yet truly a bittersweet narrative, the production explores a dramatic family fusion when two arrivals come crashing into Beverly's (Rebecca Trehearn) and Rick's (Nuno Queimado) seemingly happy home.

Elaine (Lisa Maxwell) is beginning to forget, but her Alzheimer's diagnosis is difficult to accept for her, as well as the couple who must adapt their lifestyles to accommodate this when she likes to maintain control. A cloud of dysfunctionality shrouds the trio when Emma (Katie Cailean), who is non-speaking, autistic, and has synesthesia, is desperately seeking a safe place of solace with those willing to try to understand. Despite initially being deemed as the biggest complexity in the situation, it soon seems as if there is much more to the dynamic that has contributed to the fractioning...

Katie plays the teenager with an air of wonder. It is hard to believe that Indigo is her professional debut when the depth and versatility of her character go beyond many West End standard performances - definitely a star in the making. Autistic herself, she proudly represents the neurodivergent community, bringing a level of authenticity that can only be expressed through lived experience. There are frequently moments that are particularly nuanced, such as the reaction to overwhelm or the constant battle to avoid being misunderstood, while carefully analysing those around in a bid for security. A hugely significant message conveyed is the importance of inclusion through non-verbal communication: a concept rarely explored. Emma's character has beautiful abilities that tend to get overlooked as she doesn't speak, thus she is deemed incapable. The reality is shown to be quite the opposite when given the opportunity for her interests and talents to shine through, particularly valued by a patient neighbour, Tyler (Hugo Rolland). Another carefully crafted depiction is that of Alicia (Tania Mathurin), highlighting how life-changing the impact of a good social worker can be.

Rick and Beverly soar through such a vast range of emotions; it is certainly admirable to see their connection shift and reflect on this throughout the show. While the plot is fictional, many of us will be able to draw on aspects that relate to our own stories, which makes it even more poignant to see playing out on stage. The small-scale cast and running time of approximately 100 minutes (no interval) provide the right environment to feel invested in the characters, with a desperate longing for their family to have a sense of healing between them.

In terms of the score, the songs aren’t outstandingly vocally impressive, but rather more a blend of poetry and storytelling that aids the script, with music and lyrics by Scott Even Davis. Moreover, it offers an internal vision of Emma's feelings as a form of expression, supporting the audience to have an insight into her relationship with sounds, colours, and the world surrounding her, which is presented with passion. The set designed by Andrzej Goulding works neatly alongside Catie Davis' direction to utilise the space well, giving the atmosphere of their standard abode, yet still displaying the creative spark that ignites bonds there. It would make for a perfect transfer to a small London venue.

Overall, Indigo is a glorious mix of everything desired from a little musical like this. There are compelling theatrics, but not pulling away from the simplicity of a good story told well. Compassion, grief, and confusion are just a few of the themes woven into the script that show the reality of how messy life can be behind closed doors or on the other side of the screen on that Zoom call. However, there is also a beacon of hope for anyone trying to reach it.