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i don't wanna open up a whole debate but it's about theatre so it probably will.
something i'm asking myself more and more with research about #thebook is what constitutes as "Black theatre" (in Britain)? who defines it? what are the parameters and measurements?
something i'm asking myself more and more with research about #thebook is what constitutes as "Black theatre" (in Britain)? who defines it? what are the parameters and measurements?
leaving the debate about whether the term(s) Black theatre/plays should exist or not, for the time being as it does, the internal battles i have with some work receiving this marker has been interesting to observe at the least, annoying to question at most.
examples of some plays i've been quoted when I've asked for specific recs for 'Black theatre/plays':
Small Island at the NT, written by Andrea Levy (R.I.P), adapted by a white woman and directed by a white man, maj. Black cast.
Small Island has Blackness at its core that cannot be extrapolated from the work, does a WM directing it and WW adapting it muddy the waters?
Small Island has Blackness at its core that cannot be extrapolated from the work, does a WM directing it and WW adapting it muddy the waters?
Poet In Da Corner at the Royal Court:
i'm intrigued as to what exactly about the work causes it to become 'Black theatre' - is it because it is grime-centric (when outside of the sector, the debate about who grime 'belongs' to has been going on for years) //
i'm intrigued as to what exactly about the work causes it to become 'Black theatre' - is it because it is grime-centric (when outside of the sector, the debate about who grime 'belongs' to has been going on for years) //
// is it because it's a Black maj. cast? is it because it's directed by a Black woman? the work centres Debris' (a white woman) coming-of-age through the lens of grime and the communities she connects with through this.
Death of England at the NT, written by two Black men, directed by a Black man, cast of one (white man):
does 'Black theatre' need to centre Blackness in its story to be 'Black theatre'? is the fact that two Black men wrote and directed it enough?
does 'Black theatre' need to centre Blackness in its story to be 'Black theatre'? is the fact that two Black men wrote and directed it enough?
etc etc. it's obviously nuanced and i don't think there needs to be a one-size descriptor, but i do find it interesting the things that are said to be 'Black theatre' and whether i agree with that or not.
anyway, i'm gonna write about it but i'm running away from the book like a criminal so instead i'm tweeting thoughts.
