This anthology brings together six plays, all written or performed since
2017, by six brilliant Black British writers--Travis Alabanza, Firdos
Ali, Natasha Gordon, Arinzé Kene, Chinonyerem Odimba and debbie tucker
green.
The plays demonstrate a rich range of settings, forms, styles,
locations, scales, contents and concerns--and explore themes including
politics and protest, grief and colonization, relationships and gender.
They have been seen on stages including the National Theatre, the Royal
Court, the Bush and Bristol Old Vic, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe,
in the West End, and on tour of the UK.
Selected and introduced by leading theatre director Natalie Ibu,
Contemporary Plays by Black British Writers celebrates a multiplicity
of stories authored by Black playwrights in the UK over the last decade.
Included in this volume:
Misty by Arinzé Kene (Bush Theatre, London, 2018) -- "A powerful
meditation on how we tell stories and a raw, beautiful Odyssey through
the heart of London." --The Arts Desk
Nine Night by Natasha Gordon (National Theatre, London, 2018) --
"An undeniably important piece that both celebrates and gives a voice to
the Windrush generation and its descendants living in Britain today."
--Broadway World
Princess & The Hustler by Chinonyerem Odimba (Eclipse Theatre,
Bristol Old Vic & Hull Truck, 2019) -- "A crucial slice of black British
history... a beautifully crafted play that kaleidoscopes multiple issues
with warmth, integrity and humour." --Observer
Burgerz by Travis Alabanza (Hackney Showroom, 2018) -- "An angry
and intelligent script, underscored with the real pain of exclusion, of
being boxed in, of being trapped in a world where sexual and racial
violence is prevalent and, too often, tolerated." --Guardian
40 Days by Firdos Ali (unperformed) -- "Explores the impact of
state violence on Black and brown children, and the consequence of
bringing that news into the home on young lives." --Natalie Ibu, from
her Introduction
a profoundly affectionate, passionate devotion to someone (-noun)
by debbie tucker green (Royal Court Theatre, London, 2017) --
"Beautifully dark and recognisable... an insightful observation of how
we dissect our relationships, how we talk about talking, and what
'silence' means between lovers." --Independent
