ARTICLES

• The Past Decade in Black British Theatre

The Guardian examines the last decade in black british theatre, from artistic directors to actors and playwrights.

• Black British Theatre: 1950–1979 

A British Library piece describing the evolution of black British theatre in the 1950s, focusing on several key playwrights of the period

• 'We're here!' The black playwrights storming the West End 

The Guardian interviews playwrights Arinzé Kene and Natasha Gordon about their West End debut and how they feel black theatre and audiences are changing.

• Black and Asian British Theatre Taking The Stage, Chapter from ‘The Cambridge History of Black and Asian British Writing’ 

An academic piece examining the ever shifting theatre landscape in the 1980s. (Accessible through Raven)

RESOURCES

• Black Plays Archive: BPA 

National Theatre’s catalogue of the first professional productions of African, Carribean and black British plays produced in Britain. There is a search tool available to help find specific plays as well as a more general browsing option

• Dear Mister Shakespeare: inspired by Shakespeare's Othello 

An original piece by Phoebe Boswell about the racial tensions within Othello. Originally created as a part of ‘Shakespeare Lives’, the British Council’s 400 year commemoration of Shakespeare’s death. (Available through Digital Theatre Plus)

• Black Ticket Project

They work with youth groups, charities, youth workers, schools and youth arts companies to help build relationships between artistic institutions and communities that are often racially and socio-economically marginalised. They do this by offering free tickets to shows, talks and exhibitions to young people, organising free training and development opportunities and helping people access these opportunities by helping with travel and accommodation costs.

• Black Theatre Live

Until it sadly closed its doors in 2018, BTL was a pioneering national consortium with the goal of effecting change for BAME touring theatre, commissioning both companies and artists. Now, their website still stands as a useful resource for representing BAME companies, artists and tours all across the UK.

• Drama Online Black Theatre Collection

Catalogue of plays written by black playwrights put together by Drama Online (accessible through Raven)

• Sounds - Raising the Bar: 100 Years of Black British Theatre and Screen

Lenny Henry presents a series of programmes tracing a century of black British theatre and screen.

• Black British Theatre Awards 

A yearly competition celebrating the achievements of black British theatre makers

• Black Lives Matter: A Virtual Celebration of Black Theatre Artists 

A 3 hour special fundraising concert which aired on June 4th 2020 to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Performers shared songs as well as their thoughts and reflections on anti racism and police brutality

PLAYWRIGHTS (provided by The Cambridge Footlights)

• Danai Gurira (The Convert)
• Debbie Tucker Green (hang) 
• Arinzé Kene (Misty)
• Roy Williams (Sucker Punch)
• Kwame Kwei-Armah (Statement of Regret)
• Bola Agbaje (Gone Too Far)
• Natasha Gordon (Nine Night)
• Winsome Pinnock (Leave Taking)
• Barry Reckford (Skyvers)

THEATRE COMPANIES

• Talawa
• Eclipse Theatre 
• Tangle Theatre Company 
• Cambridge-based Bread Theatre and Film Company 
• More to be found on https://www.blacktheatrelive.co.uk/companies 

FULL PRODUCTIONS (Available on Digital Theatre+)

• Julius Caesar | Illuminations | Digital Theatre

Directed by Gregory Doran and featuring an entirely black british cast, this adaptation relocates Shakespeare’s tale of power and corruption to post independence Africa

• Hamlet | Tara Arts | Digital Theatre 

Marked the first all black cast production of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy in the UK. Q&A with the director follows the screening.

• Othello | Royal Shakespeare Company | Digital Theatre

Iqbal Khan’s adaptation of Othello was the first RSC production to cast a black actor as Iago, casting a different light on the racist themes within the play.