Take a look at plays spanning 4 decades of representing Black LGBTIQ+ …
Black British Queer Plays and Practitioners: An Anthology of Afriquia Theatre is a bold play collection representing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ+) experiences from Black British perspectives, this anthology contains seven radical plays by Black writers that change the face of theatre in Britain.
The collection captures the historical scope and range of Black British LGBTIQ+ theatre, from the 1980s to 2021.
We spoke to Mojisola Adebayo one of the curators of the Anthology about the journey to publication and the importance of the anthology …
Please introduce yourself …
I am Mojisola Adebayo, playwright, performer, director, facilitator and academic.
Why Black British Queer Plays and Practitioners: An Anthology of Afriquia Theatre?
The book is a collection of plays spanning 4 decades of representing Black LGBTIQ+ also known here as ‘Afriquia‘ life in Britain. The plays are beautiful and leave a lasting legacy of our cultural contribution. Moreover, they inspire the next generation and there is an intergenerational discussion running through the book between the plays. The introduction surveys many of the plays that are not in this book which holds 8 of 30+ plays about black Queer British life. I wrote one of the plays – STARS.
Tell us about the process to get Black British Queer Plays and Practitioners: An Anthology of Afriquia Theatre completed …
Lynette Goddard and I spoke a lot about the book over many evenings. We contacted artists to be part of the roundtable discussion and transcribed and edited that incredibly rich conversation. The introduction was very collaborative, some of it was based on my PhD and infused with insights and knowledge from Lynette. It is a very different process from writing plays.
How did you find and choose your publisher?
Bloomsbury Methuen had published my plays and many other Black Queer playwrights since taking over Oberon Books so they were a good fit.
What does Black British Queer Plays and Practitioners: An Anthology of Afriquia Theatre
mean to you personally?
I am immensely proud of the book. We have shown that Black Queer life has a long history on British stages.
What’s next?
STARS – shortlisted for the George Devine Award 2022 (Tamasha Theatre Company and Institute of Contemporary Arts, London and national touring from April 2023), is featured in the book. Find out more here. Family Tree – Winner of the Alfred Fagon Award 2021 (Actors Touring Company, Coventry Belgrade, Brixton House and national touring from March 2023). Take a look and book here. Writer-on-Attachment to the Royal National Theatre 2022-2023. Watch this space.
How do we keep up to date with you and your work?
www.mojisolaadebayo.co.uk