Contemporary Plays by Black British Writers

By Arinzé Kene, Natasha Gordon, Chinonyerem Odimba and 2 more

This anthology brings together six plays, all written or performed since 2017, by six brilliant Black British writers – Travis Alabanza, Firdos Ali, Natasha Gordon, debbie tucker green, Arinzé Kene and Chinonyerem Odimba.

The plays demonstrate a rich range of settings, forms, styles, locations, scales, contents and concerns – and explore themes including politics and protest, grief and colonisation, 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

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: Sep 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781788504645

Arinzé Kene

Arinzé Kene is a playwright and actor. His plays include Misty (Bush Theatre, London, and West End, 2018); good dog (Tiata Fahodzi, 2017); God’s Property (Soho Theatre, 2013); Estate Walls (Ovalhouse Theatre, 2011); and Little Baby Jesus (Ovalhouse, 2011). He was awarded an MBE in 2020.