Coventry: Gospel-powered show with 1980s backdrop to open

The show, set in the 1980s, looks at the personal and professional struggles of its main character Trevor

A gospel-powered theatre show inspired by real events from the 1980s is set to open in Coventry.

Community Service follows challenges faced by Trevor, one of the West Midlands' first black police officers and an acclaimed gospel guitarist.

Birmingham-based theatre company Stan's Cafe said the show's backdrop included the 1981 riots in Handsworth and the miners' strike.

It runs from Wednesday to Saturday at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre.

Later in April, the show will go on tour, to Bristol, Ipswich and Derby, before returning to the West Midlands where it will be performed at the Birmingham Hippodrome from 8 to 11 May.

Stan's Cafe theatre group said Community Service explores the impact of Windrush generation descendants on UK culture and community

Stan's Cafe said the show, which includes an on-stage band, was "uplifting", with a live soundtrack embracing gospel, "Jamaican reggae and Motown-influenced funk".

Directors also said it was loosely inspired by "the life of Birmingham community hero" and one the West Midlands' first black officers, Trevor Prince, who died in 2019.

Reisz Amos, from Birmingham, who produces music under the name Odd Priest, is one of the show's three directors and also plays the role of Trevor.

The production looks at divisions but is ultimately uplifting with a good soundtrack, say directors

"I think people at the very least will walk away with something to think about," he said.

"I can use all the words to say they'll enjoy it, they will have a good time, there'll be laughter, we do expect that. We want that."

"But for me if an audience member walks away with something new to think about then we've done our job properly."

He added that he was "excited and honoured to be involved".

The show also highlights the "deep divisions" at the time on the streets, at work and in the Pentecostal Church, where the main character sees a divide developing between generations, the company said.

The show is set to be performed at five theatres

James Yarker, a co-director of Community Service and Stan's Cafe's artistic director, said: "The idea to create a show around Trevor's life was brought to us by his family, who told us stories about him, answered our questions and put us in touch with some of his former work colleagues."

He said Mr Prince was born in Birmingham in 1955 and his parents had come to Britain from Jamaica.

He had formed the Shiloh Band, an influential gospel group, with friends after playing guitar for the Pentecostal Church.

After joining the police cadets aged 16, he became a police officer and "became a familiar and much-loved figure" in the city, he added.