October marks Black History Month and is a prime opportunity for us to reflect on the incredible range of talent in our Arts & Theatre industries. From artists to performers, the diversity of our creative arts is reflected in the quality of its products, with BAME creatives contributing hugely to our rich artistic culture.
debbie tucker green ~ Francesca Vercoe (she/her)
Don’t be fooled by the lower-case initials, debbie tucker green is not one to hide in the shadows. In fact, she is one of most influential black British playwrights of our generation, who provoked a cultural renaissance of black theatre in the 21st century.
Born in London, tucker green spent a decade working as a stage manager before embarking on a career as a playwright. Her 2003 play dirty butterfly was produced by the Soho Theatre and born bad, released in the following year, won her an Olivier Award for Best Newcomer. tucker green’s writing is grounded in the theatrical style of ‘dirty realism’, often focusing on the urban angst and violence of London council estates. She loves to play with language and even on the page, her plays come alive with the rich vernacular of Black British English (BBE).
debbie tucker green shocks her audiences by dealing with mundane issues that gradually turn darker as the play develops; she focuses on the emotional aftermath rather than the incident itself and brings individual turmoil to the fore. Having been discovered so early on in her career, her theatre is still fresh and bold, and her plays cut right to the heart of young people.
She also writes for the screen, with her harrowing one-woman play random adapted into a Channel 4 drama, and her 2021 film ear to eye focusing on racial issues.
In an industry where the presence of black female writers remains unexpected, tucker green is unapologetically loud and fierce. She refuses to conform to traditionally positive representations of black women who audiences should pity, and instead depicts unflinching characters who are rough and cruel by virtue of a lifetime of hardships.
Aaron Douglas ~ Lydia Shiel (she/her)
Aaron Douglas is a highly influential artist who ingeniously interweaves African American cultural identity and European Modernist techniques in his artwork. He stands as one of the first people to illustrate African American history through the medium of visual art. I initially came across his work a while back and it left me incapable of ignorance.
His 1936 painting, Into Bondage, is stunningly striking, as it shines a light on the life of the enslaved in their native land. Douglas illuminates the chains that binds each of the slaves by colouring the chains an eye-catching red, a particularly powerful artistic choice that immediately demands the viewer to consider the chains. The contrast between the naturally beautiful setting and the shadowed figures in chains, I believe, captures the racism that continues to persist today. It is a timeless treasure that is a memorable reminder of voices that must be represented.
Douglas depicts profound social issues by seamlessly incorporating them within his aesthetically appealing visuals. His graphics speak to white supremacists by revealing the reality of racism throughout history that has yet to be truly taken account for.
Aaron Douglas and his politically powerful pieces absolutely commanded my attention and has refused to let me forget since.
Shanay Holmes ~ Sophie Layton (she/her)
Shanay Holmes is a theatre actress, singer and performer who was recently playing Ellen in the Sheffield Theatres production of Miss Saigon, which ran over the summer in the Crucible. She has previously starred in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, as well as productions of The Bodyguard and Rent.
Earlier this year, Shanay Holmes sang ‘Seasons of Love’ from Rent at the Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall to mark their memoriam, in a powerful tribute which included both the late Dame Hilary Mantel & Paul O’Grady. She was widely praised for her touching rendition, which moved many to tears.
Her love of theatre has stretched beyond her own performances. She was the director and co-founder of MusicalCon last year, the first musical theatre fan convention in the United Kingdom, which returned on October 21st and 22nd, that saw theatre talent from across the country and world come together for a celebration of all things theatre.
Shanay Holmes is a powerful talent, inspiring young artists, particularly BAME artists, and she seems set to continue her illustrious career. Whether it’s performing on stage or bringing people together, she is a role model for everyone who wants to make their careers on stage and all those who are looking for an inspiring figure in the arts.
