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Up Against The Wall

By Felix Cross

Year staged: 1999

Opening night: 24/03/1999

Theatre Company: Black Theatre Co-operative; 1979

Staged in: The Tricycle Theatre, latterly The Kiln Theatre

Cast Size: 7

Synopsis

Henry’s got an idea. A great idea. An idea that’s gonna make him millions. He’s gonna write a musical. A black musical. A big black musical – like you’ve never seen before. It’s gonna be afros, flares, medallions…take it to the bridge and let it all hang out. The brilliant thing about Henry’s idea is that it’s all so simple… A few songs from the ’70s – Shaft, Superfly, Move On Up, some funky moves, some serious vibe and hey presto – you got a hit… Now all they need is a cast. This could be bigger than Shaft, better than Grease, badder than Mohammed Ali. It’ll be the greatest musical ever.

Original Cast

Noel McKoy

Henry

Mark McLean

Vincent

Clinton Blake

Courtney

Clement Ishmael

Ritchie

Adrian Reid

Ritchie

Lorna Brown

Shelley

Suzanne Packer

Grace

Production Team

Allen Ali

Designer

Marise Rose

Designer

Bryan Bowen

Costumes

Joe Lewis

Lighting

Dollie Henry

Choreographer

Aidrian Reid

Musical Director

Debbie Green

Assistant Director

Paulette Randall

Playwright / Director

Additional Materials

Unpublished playscript

Ref: BBPA/4/6

National Theatre

Link to Production Management File

Production Management File

Ref: THM/317/3/1/185

V&A Theatre and Performance Collection

Link to Fundraising file

Fundraising file

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/1/002

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Education and Outreach file (1)

Education and Outreach file (1)

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/1/003

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Education and Outreach file (2)

Education and Outreach file (2)

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/1/004

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Leaflets

Leaflets

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/2/001

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Programmes

Programmes

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/2/002

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Poster (A3)

Poster (A3)

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/2/003

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Postcards

Postcards

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/2/004

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Playscript

Playscript

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/3

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Video Recording

Video Recording

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/5

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Musical Score

Musical Score

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/6/001

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Press Reviews

Press Reviews

Ref: NTC/P/T/3/012

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

Link to Production File

Production File

Ref: NTC/P/T/1/34/1/001

Future Histories - Black Performance and Carnival Archive

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