Black Plays 2010s

The 2010s: Diverse Voices and Challenging Perspectives

The 2010s at the Royal Court Theatre saw a continued flourishing of Black British voices, with debbie tucker green emerging as one of the decade’s most significant and challenging playwrights.

tucker green’s work during this period was characterised by its unflinching examination of complex social issues. Her play truth and reconciliation (2011) explored the aftermath of conflict in five countries, challenging audiences to confront the long-lasting impacts of violence and injustice. hang (2015) was a taut, intense drama that tackled the subject of capital punishment, forcing viewers to grapple with questions of justice and retribution. a profoundly affectionate, passionate devotion to someone (-noun) (2017), often referred to simply as devotion, continued tucker green’s exploration of intimate relationships and communication, showcasing her distinctive poetic style and rhythmic dialogue.

Rachel De-lahay also emerged as a significant voice early in the decade. Her play The Westbridge (2011) explored racial tensions in South London, while Routes (2013) delved into issues of immigration and belonging. Bola Agbaje’s Belong (2012) examined the experiences of a British-Nigerian politician, reflecting the increasing visibility of Black politicians in UK public life.

The Royal Court’s commitment to international perspectives was evident in productions like Feast (2013), a collaboration exploring Yoruba culture, and Mongiwekhaya’s Brave (2014) and I See You (2015), which examined post-apartheid South Africa.

New voices addressing urgent social issues included Diana Nneka Atuona’s Liberian Girl (2015) and Charlene James‘s Cuttin’ It (2016). Nathaniel Martello-White’s Torn (2016) delved into family secrets and trauma, while Testament’s Black Men Walking (2018) explored Black British history and identity.

The decade closed with groundbreaking works like Jasmine Lee-Jones’s seven methods of killing kylie jenner (2019) and Nicôle Lecky’s Superhoe (2019), which engaged with contemporary issues of social media, race, and sexuality.

Lemn Sissay‘s The Report (2017) stood out as a powerful piece confronting the failures of the care system and institutional racism.

These plays reflected and engaged with major social and political events, including the Windrush scandal, and ongoing debates about immigration and identity in the UK.