Black Plays Series: Readings, Alterations by Michael Abbensetts

In this enjoyable and informal series, plays by Mojisola Adebayo, Tunde Ikoli and Michael Abbensetts will be read by actors, followed by lively group discussion. Led by Natasha Bonnelame (until recently the Black Plays Archive Project Manager).

Alterations is a comedy set in a tailor's shop, inspired by a real visit to a small room off Carnaby Street where two black tailors had set up shop with just two sewing machines and an ironing board. Performed in London, New Jersey and California, it offers a lively version of black entrepreneurship.

Born in Guyana, Michael Abbensetts moved to London in 1963, and began his career writing short stores. Inspired after seeing a performance of John Osborne's Look Back in Anger, he turned to playwriting and his first play Sweet Talk premiered at the Royal Court in 1973, receiving the George Devine Award in the same year. Sweet Talk is the most widely performed of Abbensett's plays with productions staged in New York, Canada, Nigeria, Guyana, and Jamaica. In 1974 Abbensetts became the Resident Dramatist at the Royal Court and, during the 1970s and 80s, a number of his plays were produced for the London stage.