Singing and living the blues: Sharon D Clarke as Ma Rainey (centre) with the Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom company. Photo credit: Johan Persson Theatre: Lyttelton, National Theatre Play: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Playwright: August Wilson Director: Dominic Cooke Review by Joy Francis August Wilson’s assured and passionate grasp of the dehumanising and insidious impact of… Continue reading Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Jamie Lloyd directs Uzo Aduba and Zawe Ashton in The Maids
The Jamie Lloyd Company’s first production of 2016 will be the full-throttle UK premiere of a contemporary adaptation of Jean Genet’s powerful psycho-drama, The Maids, with an all-star cast: Uzo Aduba, Zawe Ashton and Laura Carmichael..
Audra McDonald makes her West End debut in Lady Day
Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Audra McDonald is to make her long awaited West End debut this summer, portraying legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. This critically acclaimed production will play a limited engagement at the West End’s Wyndham’s Theatre from 25 June to 3 September 2016, having broken box… Continue reading Audra McDonald makes her West End debut in Lady Day
BBC Journalism Training Scheme
This is a golden opportunity for creative and original talent to train and get experience in TV, radio or online with the BBC. People from all backgrounds are encouraged apply. You can also meet the team and find out more at the BBC ‘GET IN’ events here. Deadline: 8 February 2016 Website: Click here
Escaped Alone
The quiet apocalypse: Linda Bassett (Mrs Jarrett), Deborah Findlay (Sally), Kika Markham (Lena) & June Watson (Vi). Photo credit: Johan Persson Theatre: Royal Court Play: Escaped Alone Playwright: Caryl Churchill Director: James Macdonald Review by Joy Francis Caryl Churchill has rock star status in theatre, and among actors. Not only does her latest play Escaped… Continue reading Escaped Alone
Literature laid bare
With literary festivals continually failing to feature writers of colour with any consistency or commitment, Media Diversified founder Samantha Asumadu and her team Henna, Samira, Mend and Kelly, created the Bare Lit Festival, backed by a crowding funding campaign. She explains why.
The Mother
Book: The Mother Author: Yvvette Edwards Publisher: Mantle Price: Hardback £12.99 and eBook £8.99 Review by Irenosen Okojie In Yvvette Edwards’ stunning new novel The Mother, we find a couple struggling to cope after the murder of their teenage son. Not only must Marcia and Lloydie attempt to rebuild their lives following Ryan’s tragic death… Continue reading The Mother
Unhallowed Graves
Book: Unhallowed Graves Author: Nuzo Onoh Publisher: Canaan-Star Publishing Price: £8.99 Review by Ronke Lawal In Unhallowed Graves Nuzo Onoh brings together three chilling stories of revenge, each more harrowing than the next. These stories are a graduation of sorts for Onoh, whose tales in her debut The Reluctant Dead were a superb introduction to… Continue reading Unhallowed Graves
Interview with Gbolahan Obisesan
Photo credit Daniella Baynes Nigerian-born and London-based award-winning playwright and director Gbolahan Obisesan is a Genesis Fellow at the Young Vic. He first made an impact as a playwright with Mad About the Boy, which ran at the Edinburgh Festival in 2011 and won a Fringe First for Best Play. His career path is sprinkled… Continue reading Interview with Gbolahan Obisesan
wonder.land
Alice in cyberland: Carly Bawden (Alice) and Lois Chimimba (Aly). Photo credit Brinkhoff Mögenburg Theatre: National Theatre Play: wonder.land Playwright: Moira Buffini Director: Rufus Norris Review by Irenosen Okojie wonder.land, the new musical created by Blur frontman Damon Albarn, Moira Buffini and the National Theatre’s artistic director Rufus Norris is an ambitious, fresh take on… Continue reading wonder.land