Black History month play will explore prejudice

A NEW short play dealing with issues of prejudice, bigotry and intolerance will be part of a multimedia event in Newcastle to mark Black History Month.

Sorry, ‘Not Sorry’ will be performed by students from stage school Famous 4.15 at Gosforth Civic Theatre today as part of RESPECT 2018, devised and presented by Brian Ward, Professor in American Studies at Northumbria University.

His book, Martin Luther King in Newcastle upon Tyne, underpinned last year’s Freedom City 2017 celebrations, and Brian has joined forces with Famous 4.15 for this year’s event.

“The problems addressed in Sorry, ‘Not Sorry’ are the sort of problems Martin Luther King spoke of when he visited Newcastle in 1967,” Brian said, “and they are still all too common in today’s world.”

Daley Barber-Allen, who developed Sorry, ‘Not Sorry’ with the young cast, explains: “The play explores themes of respect and tolerance in a thought-provoking piece of theatre inspired by real stories and recent media headlines covering hate crimes and discrimination.”

The event also includes a screening of Civil Rites, Andrea Luka Zimmerman’s acclaimed short documentary about the places on Tyneside where echoes of the region’s radical political heritage can still be seen and felt.

Plus there will be a special performance by local rapper Kay Greyson.

Brian added: “It’s been a pleasure to work with the talented teachers and young performers at Famous 4.15, with extraordinary filmmakers like Andrea Luka Zimmerman, and with powerful young voices like Kay Greyson.

“They are making sure that the local traditions of racial diversity and progressive politics I wrote about in my book are going to be remembered by – and inspire – a new generation.”