A critically-acclaimed production inspired by a real-life walking men’s group in Sheffield visits Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre next month as part of a UK-wide tour.
The first work staged as part of the Eclipse’s groundbreaking Revolution Mix movement, which is delivering the largest ever national programme of Black British stories produced and performed in UK theatres, Black Men Walking was nominated for UK Theatre’s Best New Play and Writer’s Guild Best Play 2019.
The original production was conceived by Eclipse in collaboration with Leeds-based rapper, singer, producer and performerTestament (who is performing at the SJT in his one-man show Woke on Tuesday 5 November) and directed by Dawn Walton. It has won rave reviews for its exploration of complex themes including race and identity, through dramatic storytelling mixing prose, poetry and original music.
Black Men Walking tells the compelling story of three middle-aged Black men, Thomas, Matthew and Richard, who meet every month as part of a walking group to explore the Peak District. On this particular trip, the rest of group cancels and it soon feels like maybe they should have, too. They find themselves forced to walk backwards through 2,000 of Black history, embarking on a dangerous journey that invokes an element of the supernatural, an encounter with the spirits of their ancestors and an exploration of what it means to be both Black and British today.
The Sheffield-based walking group which inspired the production was founded in 2004 by a group of men of African and African-Caribbean heritage who started walking for health, wellbeing and camaraderie.
The cast is Tonderai Munyevu, Dorcas Sebuyange, Ben Onwukwe and Patrick Regis.
Peter Huntley, Eclipse Interim Executive Producer, says: “We’re thrilled to bring back Black Men Walking for its second UK tour. The reaction to the inaugural run last year from audiences and critics alike was incredible and further proof of what Eclipse has known for a long time; that that there is an audience crying out see and hear more Black British stories. This is a fantastic opportunity to share this powerful, lyrical production with new audiences from communities who, up until now, may not have seen themselves and their experiences represented on stage in this way before.”
Black Man Walking can be seen in the Round at the SJT on Friday 15 November at 7.30pm, and Saturday 16 November at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets, priced from £10, are available from the box office on 01723 370541 and online at www.sjt.uk.com.
Photos by Ellie Kurttz