I always thought I wanted to be with someone who was the same as me. Then you came along.

Somewhere in England is a moving and fascinating insight into life, love and injustice which occurred during the arrival of thousands of American GIs from the 8th United States Army Air Force in East Anglia. Writen by Polly Wiseman, and directed by Gari Jones.

I am sure that we are all aware of the “Overpaid, Over Sexed and Over Here” reference to American GIs who arrived in England bearing gifts of candy bars, coca cola, chewing gum, cigarettes and nylons and their generous nature made them alluring to women. Amongst their number were around 100,000 black Americans who arrived in the UK during the war, far outnumbering the black population at the time - which may have been around 7,000.

Somewhere in England is a tragic love story between Viv (played by Georgia Brown) an East End girl who has arrived in East Anglia to work as part of the Women’s Land Army and Joe a Black American GI serving with the 8th United States Army Air Force. Joe (played by Nathaniel Campbell) had signed up to serve his country in an effort to help remove prejudice and improve equality for black Americans in the United States. The reality was very different for black GIs who were subjected to menial jobs and segregation as they were not allowed to mix with white airmen.

In East Anglia the locals and the land girls welcomed all GIs regardless of race, creed or colour and Viv is soon charmed by the softly spoken Joe and they fall in love. It was to be a love affair that was surrounded by prejudice, as even the highly respected Women’s Voluntary Service actively discouraged white British women from socialising with black GIs by spreading a rumour that they all had venereal disease, and the issue of mixed race babies was raised in the Houses of Parliament.

All of the above meant that Viv and Joe’s relationship appeared doomed to failure and the audience at this evening’s performance at the Sir John Mills Theatre who were hoping for a love conquers all and a happy ever after ending were subsequently to witness a different, shocking and saddening alternative ending to the story.

In contrast to Joe there is Chester the brash white American GI (played by Joshua Hayes) who despite his clear attraction to Viv, no amount of Hershey bars or nylons can gain any interest or attention from Viv who only has eyes for gentleman Joe. In a disconcerting twist Chester then turns his attention to a local teenage girl Ginny (played by Grace Osborn) and following an evening at a local club Chester who has entertained Ginny attempts to take advantage of the girl who has had too much to drink. Joe intervenes and in the tussle that ensues Chester is stabbed with his own knife.

This would become an incident that would change the outlook for Joe, despite the intervention of Ginny, whose misguided actions only added to the fate which would determine Joe’s future in a way that he could not have predicted when he arrived in Britain several years earlier.

Overall a thought provoking evening and one in which we all appreciate how much black GIs gave to the war effort and the fight against fascism in Europe whilst been persecuted and subjected to racism themselves.