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- Title
Black and British Temba Theatre Forges the Mainstream.
- Authors
Carpenter, Sandy
- Abstract
This article presents an interview with Alby James, artistic director of Temba Theatre, about the play Romeo and Juliet performed at the Young Vic Theater. When asked whether Temba has a special mission, James stated that Temba, which is a Zulu word meaning hope, was founded in 1972 primarily to give artistic expression and voice to black cultures and experience in Britain. Temba is nurturing young black writers, actors, designers and directors and is taking their experiences to a far wider audience than would have been possible. They are proving that black theatre in London, England, with its richness and energy, has as much relevance in our society as Shaw, Shakespeare, or Pinter. Temba is introducing new talent, language, rhythms into the British theatre. Meanwhile, when asked whether he was involved in theater as a youngster, James said that he was born in North London. His parents were originally from Jamaica. He thinks he discovered his love for theater while he was a student at Southgate Technical College, he also studied acting and directing at the University of Anglia where he became president of drama. In 1979 he joined the Royal Court Theatre as assistant director for the Royal Shakespeare Company for the first season of the company at the Barbican Theatre. Plays that Temba has presented under his direction include The Pirate Princess, Chameleon, Scrape Off, Mama Decemba, The Black Phantomime and Woza Albert!
- Subjects
UNITED Kingdom; JAMES, Alby; THEATRICAL producers &; directors; THEATER; BLACK actors
- Publication
TDR: The Drama Review (MIT Press), 1990, Vol 34, Issue 1, p28
- ISSN
1054-2043
- Publication type
Interview
- DOI
10.2307/1146003