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New play celebrates end of slavery

A play celebrating the 200th anniversary of the abolishment of slavery in Britain will be staged at the Customs House in South Shields this week. Ex young offenders Darren Raymond and Fabian Spencer star in the poignant and inspiring drama, Black Atlas, at the Customs House tonight at 7.30pm.

Black Atlas tells the historic tale of two slaves, one from America, the other from Africa, tossed together by fate in Regency England. One can read, the other cannot – but both find fame and fortune and a freedom they never thought possible. Spanning three continents in 85 minutes, Black Atlas is based on George MacDonald Fraser’s best-selling novel “Black Ajax”.

African slave William Richmond claws his way up from nothing to business success, opening a Knightsbridge pub and a boxing academy. American slave Tom Molineaux fights his way to fame and fortune, becoming the first black prize fighter in England. For Darren, 24, who plays African slave William in the London Shakespeare Workout Company production, the experience has been life-changing.

Darren said: “I couldn’t ever imagine me doing this. “It means so much, I can’t tell you. Being involved with LSW has given me so much confidence. I love performing and I love doing workshops in prisons, schools, with my own community – everywhere. I want to give something back. I will never leave it behind.”

Fabian said: “I think this production makes people view offenders in a different light. “It helps them to see that we are normal, with feelings and hearts. “Drama is something that I have always wanted to be involved in – it stops inhibitions. When you are in prison it can be the only real freedom that you experience and the only true and constructive interaction that you get with people. It is incredibly important to me. I don’t just have a new outlook on life – I have a career, and that has given me my self respect.”

Black Atlas is at The Customs House on tonight at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8, £5 concessions, and are available from the Box Office on 0191 454 1234.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .