National Theatre to stage major work by ‘forgotten’ black British playwright

Alterations is the latest in a string of major black British plays to hit London’s theatres. Photograph: National Theatre

The National Theatre’s decision to stage a work by a “pioneering” and “forgotten” black British playwright should be the start of a revival of similar overlooked work from the 70s and 80s, according to the creative team behind the project.

Director Lynette Linton and writer Trish Cooke will bring their revival of Alterations by Michael Abbensetts to the Lyttelton Theatre stage this month, and have said the decision to stage a play by the Guyanese-born author, who was the first black British writer to have a series commissioned by the BBC, is overdue.