Hampstead Theatre announces Alfred Fagon’s THE DEATH OF A BLACK MAN & world premiere of Deborah Bruce’s RAYA

Hampstead Theatre has announced its first live socially distanced productions for 2021: Alfred Fagon’s darkly compelling The Death of a Black Man and the world premiere of Deborah Bruce’s funny and tender new play, Raya.

Having originally premiered at the venue in 1975, The Death of a Black Man will be directed by former Artistic Director of Eclipse Theatre, Dawn Walton, running from 28 May - 10 July. This rare revival from the Black British playwriting canon, raises many of the same questions we face today surrounding identity, capitalism and sexual politics. Casting for this production is to be announced.

Hampstead Downstairs reopens with the world premiere of Raya from 11 June - 24 July, directed by the theatre’s Artistic Director, Roxana Silbert. Acclaimed stage and screen actors, Claire Price, Bo Poraj, and Shannon Hayes will perform in this new play, with design by Moi Tran and sound/composition by Nick Powell.

Silbert said: “I am delighted to announce these productions for many reasons.  I’m excited to share Alfred Fagon’s powerful, brilliant play with audiences, look forward with tremendous anticipation to Dawn Walton’s production in her Hampstead debut and, I am counting down the days until we are in a rehearsal room with Deborah Bruce’s beautiful play Raya, my first production Downstairs.  COVID makes planning a challenge.  However, if all goes well, our autumn season is overflowing with remarkable established and new artists including Katie Mitchell, Marsha Norman, Mufaro Makubika, Tom Wells and Tennessee Williams.  We are desperate to get going again and, in doing so, support our wonderful freelance colleagues to do what they do best: make live theatre.  It’s been a year since we shut our doors and we are ready to switch on the lights and welcome everyone back in.” 

Tickets will go on sale from Wednesday 24 March at 10.30am here.