MILES. @ Southwark Playhouse (Borough), London - Mar. 2

Benjamin Akintuyosi (Miles) Jay Phelps (Jay & Others)

The Little Theatre is Southwark's flexible theatre-in-the-round space. As the audience was ushered in, a motionless body lay prostrate on a piano. The lights dimmed until the auditorium was in total darkness. Undercover of darkness, the hitherto motionless body exited the scene. 

In the centenary year of the birth of Miles Dewey Davis III, writer and director Oliver Kaderbhai has revived his 2025 Edinburgh Festival stage play MILES.. A two-hander starring recent RADA graduate Benjamin Akintuyosi and trumpeter Jay Phelps, the final week of performances at Southwark Playhouse are playing to sold out audiences. 

At 22, Benjamin Akintuyosi as Miles achieves a remarkable physical transformation: the older Miles, the rasping voice. Canadian trumpeter Jay Phelps is equally convincing as Jay, a young musician working on his new album. 

Researching Kind of Blue, seeking insight and inspiration, Jay is intensely curious as to how Miles produced his trademark sound, the band's sound. Jay meets Miles...

Jay and Miles talk, then talk some more (Miles teases Jay, calling him 'Dave'). Over the course of an hour and more, Miles talk about John, Cannonball, Bill, Wynton, Paul, Jimmy, Bird, Dizzy, Gil and others (all familiar names to the jazz fan). The soundtrack is Kind of Blue, heard on tape and as played on stage by Phelps. On one wall, from time to time, flickering black and white images from the jazz archives help colour the story. The addictions, the women, notably Juliette Gréco, are markers along the way. MILES. is a compelling theatre production, not least Benjamin 'Benji' Akintuyosi's portrayal of Miles and Phelps' evocation of Miles' sound.          

A post-performance Q&A was attended by more than a few diehards. The Times' Clive Davis led a discussion about the play, its origins and development. Several members of the audience pitched in, asking questions. Benji and Jay were more than happy to answer at length. It had been an enjoyable and interesting evening. Russell 

:DELIRIUM: & Lauren Reed Productions presented MILES. by special arrangement with Miles Davis Properties LLC & Reservoir Media Management, Inc. 

  

CAST

Benjamin  Akintuyosi

Jay Phelps

 

CREATIVES

Oliver Kaderbhai: Writer, director & producer

Lauren Reed: Producer & general manager

Alex Lewer: Lighting designer & technical manager 

Colin J Smith: Video design & production photographer

Ellie Wintour: Set & costume design

Will Tonna: Sound design

Helen Parkin-Moore: Stage manager

Amelia Bright: Assistant director manager

Casimira Hayward-Peel: Production manager