The Mountaintop - Royal Exchange Theatre

DR King’s world famous “I Have A Dream” speech still sends a shiver down my spine and my eyes still fill up with tears every time I hear it, and I’ve heard it many, many times.

Not to be moved by this brilliant piece of oratory is not to be human and Adetomiwa Edun certainly captures the essence of the great man in Katori Hall’s extraordinary play.

But this fabulous piece also reminds us the American civil rights leader had frailties and worries just like the rest of us.

We’re in a Memphis motel room the night before Dr Martin Luther King Jr was shot dead by an assassin and he strikes up a conversation with the forthright maid Camae, a vivacious, fun loving lady who speaks first and asks no questions later.

They become close and there’s even the subtlest of hints they could be falling for each other during a particularly playful pillow fight.

Of course it’s all in Hall’s imagination and Ntombizodwa Ndlovu plays the part with perfect poise and humour. There’s plenty of humour to be had in a play that, despite the seriousness of the subject matter, is anything but a doom and gloom fest.

Edun gives a stunning performance as King and marks the debut of the RET’s joint artistic director Roy Alexander Weise. Judging by this production, audiences at this theatre can look forward to some very exciting times ahead.

The play is timely though, with movements like Black Lives Matter reminding us, if a reminder was needed, that Dr King’s “dream” isn’t reality just yet.

We critics love nothing better than diving into our big box of superlatives to sum up a production. But theatre as good as this has to simply be experienced. Unmissable.

Until October 27. The box office is at www.royalexchange.co.uk. Photo by Marc Brenner. Star rating - *****