It only takes a few moments to realise that Caroline, or Change is going to be unlike any other musical I’ve seen before. As Caroline Thibodeaux (Elenoa Rokobaro), the black maid who works for the Gellman household, arrives for work and descends into the basement “under water” to do the laundry, The Radio takes on its own life and bursts into song in the form of a Supremes-like trio in sequinned frocks (Alexandra Fricot, Emily Havea and Ruva Ngwenya).

Elijah Williams and Elenoa Rokobaro. Photograph © Phil Erbacher

Then a James Brown-like figure starts voicing the thoughts of The Dryer (Elijah Williams), with The Washing Machine (Ngwenya) also getting into the swing. Later we will encounter a mournful Bus (Williams) and a swooning Moon (Ngwenya) – fantasy figures set against the very real world portrayed. It’s a quirky, inventive, surprising and beguiling device that works beautifully in the show.

Featuring music by Jeanine Tesori (Violet, Fun Home) and book and lyrics by Tony Kushner (Angels in America), Caroline, or Change was workshopped in 1992. It opened off-Broadway in 2003 then had a short Broadway season in 2004. It has since had a season at...