Ishy Din‘s journey to his now fruitful and award-winning writing career would make a great script. After a series of unsuccessful attempts at being a businessman, and while driving a cab in his hometown of Middlesbrough, he stumbled across writing, aged 34. His first attempt, a radio play called John Barnes Saved My Life, which… Continue reading Interview with Ishy Din
X
Lost in space: Ria Zmitrowicz (Mattie) and Jessica Raine (Gilda). Picture credit: Manuel Harlan Theatre: Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court Play: X Playwright: Alistair McDowall Director: Vicky Featherstone Review by Arani Yogadeva Time, memory, loneliness, loss and love contort and shape-shift in Alistair McDowall’s dystopian psychological-fiction play.
No More Heroes
Book: No More Heroes Author: Stephen Thompson Publisher: Jacaranda Books Price: £7.99 Review by Reshma Ruia No More Heroes is a bold and ambitious work by a writer who exposes with passion and conviction, the challenges facing young black men in contemporary Britain.
A love affair with South Asian fiction
Snehal Amembal‘s love of South Asian fiction became ingrained after years of being exposed to great Western authors, including Agatha Christie and Jane Austen. This love affair led her to take the plunge and launch a blog devoted to celebrating the genre. Amembal reveals how public libraries in the UK fostered her understanding of the… Continue reading A love affair with South Asian fiction
Interview with Don Warrington
Don Warrington is the mellifluous voice behind countless TV and radio ads, and is a leading stage name and screen veteran. As Joe Keller in Talawa Theatre Company’s all-black revival of Arthur Miller’s tragedy All My Sons, he was described as “flawless”. Despite the praise, Warrington tells Carl Palmer he’s never been one to rest… Continue reading Interview with Don Warrington
Closure
Book: Closure: Contemporary Black British Short Stories Editor: Jacob Ross Publisher: Peepal Tree Press Price: £9.99 Review by Catrina Walters Closure is a riveting anthology filled with talented published Black British writers, including Fred D’Aguiar (The Lonely Londoner) and Bernardine Evaristo (The Emperor’s Babe) who feature alongside emerging writers. The theme of human strife permeates… Continue reading Closure
Les Blancs
Strained relations: Danny Sapani (Tshembe Matoseh) and Gary Beadle (Abioseh Matoseh). Photo credit: Johan Persson Theatre: National Theatre Play: Les Blancs Playwright: Lorraine Hansberry Director: Yaël Farber Review by Irenosen Okojie Les Blancs, Lorraine Hansberry’s largely unknown play, is an ambitious, geographically sweeping and provocative masterpiece on the ramifications of colonialism, and the power of… Continue reading Les Blancs
Made Visible
Who’s who?: Haley McGee (Deborah), Mia Soteriou (Ila) and Anjali Mya Chadha (Ayesha). Photo credit: Mark Douet Theatre: The Yard Theatre Play: Made Visible Playwright: Deborah Pearson Director: Stella Odunlami Review by Irenosen Okojie Deborah Pearson’s new play Made Visible at The Yard Theatre is an uncompromising and uncomfortable look at race through her lens… Continue reading Made Visible
Interview with Mongiwekhaya
Mongiwekhaya is a polymath. An actor, playwright, theatre-maker, filmmaker, puppeteer, poet and community arts mentor, he is driven by a desire to constantly create. In his 10 plus years as a creative practitioner, he has been involved in excess of 50 film and theatre productions, including being invited to perform with Cirque Du Soleil. He… Continue reading Interview with Mongiwekhaya
The Old Woman, The Buffalo and The Lion of Manding
Telling the tale: Jan Blake (centre) with Kouame Sereba and Raymond Sereba. Picture credit: Chris Webb Theatre: Canada Water Culture Space Story: The Old Woman, The Buffalo and The Lion of Manding Writers: Jan Blake, Kouame Sereba and Raymond Sereba Artistic Advisor: Harmage Singh Kalirai Review by Joy Francis Storytelling is an intrinsic part of… Continue reading The Old Woman, The Buffalo and The Lion of Manding