At National Theatre, London's Black Actors Rely On African-American Plays

"I'm an actress who's survived on American pieces," says Sharon D Clarke, who plays the title role in the National Theatre's now rehearsing production of August Wilson's MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM. "I'd like to see more of the London I've known all my life on the stage. I'm waiting!"

While Broadway is in the midst of what might be its most diverse season ever, Londonist reports of continually raging debates over the dominance of white middle-class men in British theatre that have left little work for black actors who can't master American accents.

"We lean quite heavily on the African-American play," concurs her cast-mate O. T. Fagbenle, who plays the young trumpeter Levee.

Director Dominic Cooke provides his all-British cast with displays of black and white pictures of 1920s outfits and a map of the USA dotted with pins and post-it notes to identify locations and explain facts about old school jazz that would be common knowledge to an American actor.

As they rehearse, the company is aware of how the play's story of a black jazz artist battling with her white manager and producer over control of how her music, in essence her story, is conveyed to the public alludes to their experiences working in London nearly a century later.

They're hopeful about the prospect of future West End opportunities to tell stories penned by their country's black playwrights. Cooke's first production for the National, in 2011, starred black actor Lenny Henry in THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. He's now an associate director with more creative power.

"We must never discount the fact that these are the faces on stages all over the country," says Lucian Msamati, who plays pianist Toledo. "Talented people of a particular hue... and we plants the seeds."

Click here for the full article

Visit nationaltheatre.org.uk.