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 
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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