Free Thinking

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

The ideas shaping our lives today - with artists and thinkers in debates and interviews.

The ideas shaping our lives today - with leading artists and thinkers in extended interview and debate.

Free Thinking: Black British theatre archives and an Afro-Cuban star

Black British theatre archives + an Afro Cuban star

Black British theatre archives and an Afro-Cuban star

BBC Radio 4 - Free Thinking, Black British theatre archives and an Afro-Cuban star

From an 18th-century Black Juliet to Ira Aldridge’s daughter Amanda. Plus, Rita Montaner.

Which dramatists are missing from the canon and where can you find out more about the history of Black British theatre? Nadine Deller and Stephen Bourne share their research.

Who complained about Olivier's Othello? Stephen Bourne has been mining the archives to find out who raised questions about Laurence Olivier's blacked up performance in 1964. It's one of the stories he tells in his new book, which also includes memories of meeting performers including Carmen Munroe, Corinne Skinner-Carter and Elisabeth Welch.  Nadine Deller hosts a podcast linked to the National Theatre's Black plays archive and she's particularly interested in women playwrights whose work deserves to be better known including Una Marson. They talk to performer and historian of women in theatre Naomi Paxton.   Plus New Generation Thinker Adjoa Osei tells the story of Afro Cuban performer Rita Montaner.  

Deep Are the Roots: Trailblazers Who Changed Black British Theatre is out now from Stephen Bourne. His other books include Black Poppies and Playing Gay in the Golden Age of British TV. 
The National Theatre Black Plays archive is at https://www.blackplaysarchive.org.uk/ and Nadine's podcast is called That Black Theatre Podcast. 
You can hear Dawn Walton who directed the Hampstead Theatre production of Alfred Fagon's drama The Death of a Black Man in this Free Thinking conversation about black performance From Blackface to Beyoncé  https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000tnlt 

Naomi Paxton is the author of Stage Rights! The Actresses' Franchise League, activism and politics: 1908-1958 and has written an introduction to the new book 50 Women in Theatre. 
Naomi and Adjoa are New Generation Thinkers on the scheme run by BBC Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council to turn research into radio. 

A playlist of discussions, features and essays about Black history, music, writing and performance is available on the Free Thinking programme website https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08t2qbp 

Producer: Tim Bano

Image: Trinidadian actor and playwright Errol John records his radio play Small Island Moon at the BBC in 1958

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Black British theatre archives and an Afro-Cuban star

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