Driftwood

A deeply evocative debut play about self-determination and the search for family and belonging, set in Trinidad in the 1950s. Premiered by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Kiln Theatre in 2026.

'dis is my home. De only home I have. My whole life. My history here. And de only future I go have is here.'September, 1956. As colonial Trinidad marches towards independence, a gentleman's club in downtown Port of Spain is entangled in a different kind of custody battle. Owned by Englishman Mansion, it promises its guests a comfortable environment in which to relax and indulge. But when the impetuous Diamond drifts in, cutting deals and putting lives at risk, the temperature begins to soar: one wrong move and everything could shatter. Martina Laird's debut play Driftwood is a deeply evocative story of self-determination and the search for family and belonging. It was runner-up for the 2024 Verity Bargate Award, and was first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company at The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, in 2026, before transferring to Kiln Theatre, London, directed by Justin Audibert. 'A bold and blistering exploration of colonialism and capitalism – it's funny, provocative and simply impossible to forget' Anupama Chandrasekhar, Verity Bargate Award judge'So vivid you can smell the heat and taste the sweat… rich, human and full of vigour… Driftwood is a play that captures the imagination and uncovers the past' Anthony Lau, Verity Bargate Award judge