For a theatre programmer, it’s no small feat to have your production become the talk of the nation. Write-ups in major publications, hundreds of mentions on social media, and even a primetime discussion in front of millions on Good Morning Britain? A publicity dream! But for the team behind Tambo & Bones at Stratford East, the level of attention directed their way in the past week has likely been more of a nightmare.
From Friday 16 June, the east London theatre will host American playwright Dave Harris’s acclaimed satire about two Black performers who go from being stuck in a minstrel show to becoming rap superstars. With topics including the exploitation of Black culture and the historical complexities of performing for white audiences, it’s a play that intimately explores the nuances of race and racism. So, for one performance of the show’s month-long run, the theatre will host a “Black Out night”. While not restricting anyone from attending, the performance on 5 July is specifically organised to welcome Black audience members to “watch the play together as a community”, artistic director Nadia Fall explains.
