That Black Theatre Podcast: 1950s, The Windrush Generation, Errol John and Barry Reckord

10/11/20 • 45 min

This week we are delving into a seminal point in Black British theatre, the 1950s. We look at the historical backdrop of the post-war period, mass immigration, and the Windrush Generation.

Two important playwrights who were part of that generation were Errol John and Barry Reckord. Their plays ‘Moon on a Rainbow Shawl’ and ‘Flesh to a Tiger’, look at the lives of Black people in the Caribbean under colonial rule, and the motivations many people had for making the journey to live and work in Britain. We listen to an audio clip from the National Theatre’s 2012 production of ‘Moon on a Rainbow Shawl’ and talk about how these two playwrights navigate themes of class, race, religion and patriarchy in their work.
Extract from ‘Moon on a Rainbow Shawl’ reproduced by permission of Peters Fraser & Dunlop (www.petersfraserdunlop.com) on behalf of the Estate of Errol John.
The clip used from Moon on a Rainbow Shawl was from a revival in 2012, produced by the National Theatre. It was directed by Michael Buffong, with Danny Sapani playing Ephraim, and Martina Laird playing Sophia (Mrs Adams).
Black Plays Archive website: https://www.blackplaysarchive.org.uk/
Contact National Theatre: [email protected]
Social: @nationaltheatre
References:
Errol John (1958) Moon on a Rainbow Shawl. London: Faber & Faber Ltd.
Barry Reckord (2011) For the Reckord: A Collection of Three Plays by Barry Reckord. London: Oberon Books.
Yvonne Brewster (2011) 'Introduction' in Barry Reckord, For the Reckord: A Collection of Three Plays by Barry Reckord. London: Oberon Books, pp.11-17
Mary Chamberlain, (Spring 1998) 'I Belong to Whoever Wants Me', New Formations: Frontlines/Backyards, No. 33, London: Lawrence & Wishart, pp.47-59.
Colin Chambers (2011) Black and Asian Theatre in Britain: A History. London & New York: Routledge.
Peter Fryer (1984) Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain. London: Pluto Press.
Lynette Goddard (4 Oct 2018) 'Migration stories in Errol John's Moon on a Rainbow Shawl', British Library. Read here: https://www.bl.uk/20th-century-literature/articles/migration-stories-in-errol-johns-moon-on-a-rainbow-shawl
David Olusoga (2017) Black and British: A Forgotten History. London: Pan Books.
Michael Pearce (2017) Black British Drama: A Transnational Story. London: Routledge.

This week we are delving into a seminal point in Black British theatre, the 1950s. We look at the historical backdrop of the post-war period, mass immigration, and the Windrush Generation.

Previous Episode

That Black Theatre Podcast: Black Women in the 1930s, Una Marson & Delia Jarrett-Macauley

This week we are looking at the 1930s and the first black woman playwright in the Black Plays Archive, the legendary Una Marson, and how she flourished in 1930s Britain. A trailblazer in every sense, Una Marson was a Jamaican poet, playwright, writer, activist. She was also the first black woman to be hired by the BBC.

We interview the brilliant academic and novelist, Delia Jarrett-Macauley, about Una Marson’s legacy and two of her plays, ‘At What a Price’ and ‘Pocomania’. Una’s plays talk about religion, gender politics, and racism at a time where black women were rarely given the opportunity to do so. We ask what we might learn from Una’s plays if they were revived today.
Black Plays Archive Website: https://www.blackplaysarchive.org.uk/

Email [email protected]

National Theatre on social media @nationaltheatre
Delia Jarrett-Macauley http://www.deliajarrettmacauley.com/
References:
'Pocomania and London's Calling' by Una Marson
'Una Marson' by British Library. https://www.bl.uk/people/una-marson
'The Life of Una Marson 1905-1965' by Delia Jarrett-Macauley
'Staying Power: The history of black people in Britain' by Peter Fryer
'Black and Asian Theatre in Britain' by Colin Chambers

Next Episode

That Black Theatre Podcast: 1960s, Colonisation and Class, Barry Reckord & Wole Soyinka

This week we are looking at the tumultuous 1960s, a time of civil unrest, civil rights, anti-colonial struggle, and international conflict. We talk about the work of Barry Reckord and Wole Soyinka amidst the political, social and cultural contexts of Britain, the USA and Nigeria during the 1960s.

Wole Soyinka’s ‘The Lion and the Jewel’ and Barry Reckord’s ‘Skyvers’ discuss the contrasting social and political issues affecting people in South London and Nigeria respectively. While Reckord battles with class and gender amongst working-class youth, Soyinka critiques colonisation and celebrates traditional Yoruba culture. We delve into the significant work of these two, theatrical giants, and ask if we should bring these plays back to British theatre.
Black Plays Archive website https: //www.blackplaysarchive.org.uk
Email [email protected]
Social @nationaltheatre

References:
Barry Reckord (2011) For the Reckord: A Collection of Three Plays by Barry Reckord. London: Oberon Books.

Wole Soyinka (1962) The Lion and the Jewel. Oxford: OUP.

Martin Banham (2013) ‘Critical Responses: Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel. Royal Court Theatre, London, December 1966’, Black Plays Archive. https://www.blackplaysarchive.org.uk/featured-content/essays/critical-responses-wole-soyinka%E2%80%99s-lion-and-jewel-royal-court-theatre-london

Colin Chambers (2011) Black and Asian Theatre in Britain: A History. London & New York: Routledge.
Patricia Hill Collins & Sirma Bilge (2016) Intersectionality. Cambridge and Maldon: Polity Press.
Peter Fryer (1984) Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain. London: Pluto Press.
Peter Fryer (1988) Black People in the British Empire: An Introduction. London: Pluto.
Stuart Hall (2019) 'The West and the Rest: Discourse and Power [1992]', David Morley (ed.) Stuart Hall: Essential Essays Vol. 2, Identity & Diaspora. Durham and London: Duke University Press, pp.141-185
bell hooks (1990) Yearning: Race, Gender, and Cultural Politics. London & New York: Routledge.
David Olusoga (2017) Black and British: A Forgotten History. London: Pan Books.
Michael Pearce (2017) Black British Drama: A Transnational Story. London: Routledge.

Wole Soyinka (2002) ‘The Fourth Stage: Through the Mysteries of Ogun to the Origin of Yoruba Tragedy’ in Paul Carter Harrison et al. Black Theatre: Ritual Performance in the African Diaspora. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, pp.140-153