Entries from August 2007 ↓

Brothers on the Down Low

August 13th, 2007 — Theatre

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On a set appropriately dominated by a double-bed, the turbulent and downright erotic encounters of Karl, a black, gay, well-adjusted, well-to-do photographer and “down low” (closeted) homeboy, Donovan, gradually unravel some of the existing issues and attitudes encountered by and between black gay men.

After a series of unfulfilling relationships with white guys, Karl longs for the solidarity of an ‘African Prince’, but from his first disastrous date with mixed-up Donovan, he unwittingly takes on a range of new complications - from Donovan’s bad attitude and immature posturing to his pregnant girlfriend, Susan, and exposure to HIV. (”I wasn’t having any luck with men”, he tries to explain, and the drama has only just begun).

Staged several time in London, and in New York, Boy with Beer tackles the parts other plays cannot reach - racial, class and other social divisions, preconceptions about AIDS, machismo and black attitudes towards homosexuality in particular and sexuality in general. Championed by strong characterisation and convincing performances, Boy with Beer is a timeless play which remains absorbing and accessible more than sixteen years after its London stage début.

To produce, perform or publish Boy with Beer, please get in touch.



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Hanging Saddam in The Last Newspaper Review of 2006

August 8th, 2007 — Radio, Society

Saddam Hussein is dead, but should a bunch of celebrity newspaper reviewers really feel sorry for a murderous despot?

BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House presented by Paddy O’Connell in the last newspaper review of 2006 with sports presenter Claire Balding, Only Fools and Horses actor, John Challis, and writer Paul Boakye.

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Political Voter Apathy

August 8th, 2007 — Politics, Radio

On the eve of Gordon Brown’s premiership, Liz Green of BBC Radio Leeds wants to know, “Aren’t we all just a bunch of political cynics?”

High Minded Gordon Brown in Action

Fortunately for me, I have far greater hopes for our high-minded prime minister Mister Brown than I did for his warmongering predecessor Blair. Let’s see just where it gets us.

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I Shedded No Tears Yesterday

August 7th, 2007 — Letters From America

Hi Toady,

How are you, Sweetheart? Fine, I trust. I hope you are missing me the way I miss you. At least, I shedded no tears yesterday. I hope the fountain dries up soon. Crying damages the area around the eyes, and as my eyes have always been too large and tend to attract other eyes, my already ‘back of a bus’ face is beginning to look positively ancient.

I don’t want your ‘friends’ to accuse you of robbing the grave. You know that they would prefer you to rob the cradle instead. They say one cannot teach an old dog new tricks, especially when that old dog has a mind of its own, but with a young dog now one can turn him or her into whatever one desires. Continue reading →

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“Safe” - a video resource for work with young men

August 6th, 2007 — Health

I recently rediscovered Safe, a video drama I wrote for West Midlands Regional Health Authority some years ago now. It wasn’t that I had forgotten about writing it. It’s just that I had probably only seen it once or twice after it was commissioned, so I was a little surprised to see how well it had survived the passage of time.

With increasing levels of black-on-black youth crime in Britain and recent talks of honour killings among British Asians, I thought I would dust off this short video resource for work with young men for you to see and comment on. Continue reading →

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The I’m all right Jacks

August 5th, 2007 — Letters From America

Dearest Jimmy,

It is 1.25 am. I have started this but I don’t know if I’ll finish it. I have left my glasses downstairs. I am not sure that I am writing on the line, but even before I ask, how you are, and tell you how miserable I am; I must tell you about yesterday.

Sweetheart, I promise not to write any more heavy letters after 31st August. But I have to get everything off my chest by then. By the way, I am now wearing my glasses. Can you tell the first word I wrote with them on?

Freedom Is Only A Word

Yes, yesterday, my Toady. I kept going on but I was annoyed simply by watching the news and seeing the few blacks who turned up at the Martin Luther King Anniversary March. When asked the difference between this march and the one in 1963, many explanations were given. To me, it just seems as if it was about the “I am all right Jack Syndrome” all over again. Continue reading →

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