Black Men Walking at the Royal Exchange
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Manchester’s Royal Exchange will receive the world premiere of Black Men Walking, a new play conceived by Eclipse Theatre Company, inspired by a Sheffield-based Black men’s walking group. With an original soundtrack by Testament – rapper, singer, performer and producer – the storytelling promises to be as dramatic as the landscape the group walks through.
Following critical acclaim for his last production, a charismatic solo performance – WOKE, Testament is one to watch. Looping beat-boxing with hip-hop rhythms, his lyrics are witty and accomplished – and his approach, accessible and honest.
The walking group meet on the first Saturday of every month to explore the breathtaking landscape of the Peak District. On this particular Saturday, the rest of the group cancel – leaving just Thomas, Matthew and Richard to ramble through the rugged Yorkshire countryside. Walking for health, well-being and friendship – the men find themselves compelled to walk backward through two thousand years of history before they can start to move forward. Black Men Walking is a bold and ambitious exploration of what it means to be both Black and British today.
“We walk.
Though we are written into the landscape you don’t see us.
We walked England before the English.”
Directed by Dawn Walton, Black Men Walking is part of Revolution Mix – an initiative to place the Black narrative at the fore of British Theatre. Eclipse Theatre Company are pleased to be launching the scheme which will see the largest ever national delivery of new Black British productions in regional theatres. Revolution Mix sees this unique body of work developed with fifteen specially commissioned writers and a crew of over 150 performers and creatives.
The issue of diversity in the arts has never been more urgent – dedicated to the Black men’s walking group that inspired it – this is a much needed, influential show which seeks to illuminate Britain’s important and missing histories.
