The Death of a Black Man

“At least I am my own boss. No regrets. I choose what I do. I am lucky.”

It’s 1973, and the King’s Road is the epicentre of everything that’s cool and happening in the world. Shakie, an 18-year old super-smart wheeler-dealer, is in his element hustling dodgy African furniture and is starting to make some serious money. His best friend Stumpie is developing a grand scheme for a London festival of Black music which, with Shakie’s backing, is going to make them both super-rich. So when Shakie’s older ex-lover Jackie arrives at his Chelsea flat on a visit, the trio toast the future in champagne.

But the boys have been living it large for too long and they’re heading for dangerous territory…

Alfred Fagon, for whom the premier Theatre Award for Black British writers is named, was an actor, poet and playwright. The Death of a Black Man was premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 1975, the first work by a Black British writer to be presented there. 45 years on, the play, with its dark exploration of sexual politics and the post-colonial legacy, is still compelling viewing.

Dawn Walton was the Founder Artistic Director of Eclipse Theatre. She makes her Hampstead Theatre directing debut following The Gift (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Red Dust Road (NT Scotland) and Black Men Walking (Royal Court).

The Death of a Black Man is part of Hampstead Theatre’s Classics Season, celebrating 60 years of original theatre with the restaging of four major plays from our archive.