National Theatre: That Black Theatre Podcast

Hosted by PhD student Nadine Deller in conversation with her sister Nadia Deller, That Black Theatre Podcast uses the Black Plays Archive to explore and celebrate some of the leading figures in Black British Theatre.

Through insightful and well-researched discussions of the socio-political events that have influenced the playwrights’ work, the episodes offer a comprehensive starting point for anyone wanting to gain a balanced and representative understanding of Britain's theatrical landscape.

In the 12 episodes in Series One, Deller guides the listener through the histories and works of Black theatre practitioners from the 1930s to the present day, beginning with Una Marson and Errol John, and ending with up-and-coming playwrights including Jasmine Lee-Jones, Mojisola Adebayo and Ola Ince. Extracts of works in the Archive are interspersed throughout, providing great resources.

Despite having studied English Literature at university, to my shame many of the playwrights and works discussed were new to me. It was humbling to realise the stark gaps in my historical and theatrical knowledge. Learning about them from the perspectives of two young Black women was invaluable.

Alongside the discussions, Deller interviews playwrights such as Winsome Pinnock, as well as leading academic Lynette Goddard, who speaks about the barriers faced by Black women playwrights. This topic is prominent throughout, as both sisters have experienced racism and prejudice themselves, both in and outside of the theatre world. For those privileged enough never to have been on the receiving end of racism, the podcast is an important springboard for education and discussion.

Speaking before the launch, Nadine said, ‘I never learnt about Black theatre in school, so this podcast is a celebration of Black British theatre and the stories I have found in the archive. Through a mix of history, interviews, and casual discussion, I hope to show that Black theatre is for everyone.’

While That Black Theatre Podcast could be used to great effect in history, English or politics, drama teachers might wish to set one or two episodes as homework for KS5 students, which can then lead into a wider class discussion about British theatre history, a specific playwright, or techniques used within one of the plays.

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/blog/that-black-theatrepodcast