Bright Young Tings
- Digital Exhibit
- Google Arts & Culture
- National Theatre
- Free
“We were proving ourselves to be young professionals - a feeling much sought after by our youth today.” - Chris Tummings, actor and founder member of Black Theatre Co-operative This exhibition of photographs from the National Theatre Archive's Michael Mayhew Collection is a rare snapshot of the work developed by black theatre practitioners between 1979 and 1982. In the 1970s and 80s there was an explosion of new black-led theatre companies in the UK, primarily focused in London. This came about through frustration at being marginalised and misunderstood but was also inspired by the achievements of playwrights such as Barry Reckord, Errol John, and Wole Soyinka in the 50s and 60s. The next generation of theatre producers and makers sought not only to stage plays exploring what it meant to be black and British, but also to create an environment where young black practitioners could access training in all aspects of theatre-making.