The Dream: A radio play by Nnenna Samson Abosi

Description of impact

Camilla Schofield delivered historical research and analysis to support the development of the play.

The story follows Delvin, a black British teenager as he discovers the wrath of police brutality at the same time as the rise of the Black Power Movement in London in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Delvin's Trinidadian parents travelled to the UK for a better life, as part of the Windrush generation, settling in West London, where they encounter systemic racism on a daily basis. The Mangrove Restaurant, opened by Frank Crichlow in 1969, is the favoured hang out spot for Delvin and other black teenagers in West London, however with police continually raiding the Mangrove restaurant, harassing staff and patrons, friction between the local Black community and the police is heightened. The powerful drama was written by Nnenna Samson Abosi for the young people from the SPID ON THE WEB: Estate Endz project and is co-directed by Connie Bell, Andrew McPherson and Nnenna Samson Abosi.

Who is affected

This was produced in collaboration with SPID youth theatre based in a council estate in northwest London. Participants learning employability skills and introduced to the history of the British Black Power movement. The radio play was aired at the Brighton Fringe Festival to highly positive reviews.

Impact status	In preparation
Impact date	Oct 2020 → May 2021
Category of impact	Social Impacts