BLACK MEN WALKING IN THE ROYAL COURT THEATRE

| Black Men Walking play, London Premiere on March 21st.

by Dinara Murzalina

Londoners finally have a chance to see the renowned Black Men Walking play this month.

Written by rapper Testament, also known as Andy Brooks, the play is inspired by a real-life walking group of men of African and African-Caribbean heritage. Bringing the spotlight onto “Britain’s missing Black history with a piece inspired by real people and real events”, as the director Dawn Walton describes it, the play narrates what it means to be both Black and British today.

The first show starts at the Royal Court Theatre on the 21st of March, which also marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Black Men Walking is a story of three middle-aged Black men, Thomas, Matthew, and Richard, who meet and go for a dangerous yet spiritually enriching trip to the Peak District in Yorkshire. At some point, they find themselves forced to walk backward. If there is a need to walk back through thousands of years of Black history to finally make a step forward – this is the question authors put to the audience.

Giving an exposure to Black history, male bonding is something that makes the play especially topical. Although the main point of walking is health and wellbeing, characters of the play find out it's also about camaraderie. The author of the play, Testament, says he “was privileged enough" to join 100 Black Men Walk for Health himself. "It was so inspiring on a number of levels," he says. "It felt like the walks were helping the men build a community and create a safe space to talk and share life experiences."

While there are debates on the link between ethnicity and mental health issues, Testament admits that having this kind of outlet to share thoughts and feelings is vital to mental health. “We hope that by sharing this legacy, the feelings of alienation that we can sometimes feel, are brought into context by the acknowledgment that we have always been here.”

Leeds-based social activist Tim Jones tells that social isses the play explores "offer a platform for audiences to consider their own deep-rooted responses to some of the most widespread personal and societal challenges we face today”.

Produced by the Sheffield-based Eclipse Theatre Company, Britain’s principal Black-led national touring company, Black Men Walking will run in the Royal Court Theatre up until April 7 as a part of its UK-wide tour. Find out more here.

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