For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy

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For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy
West End Promotional Poster
Written byRyan Calais Cameron
Date premiered12 October 2021
Place premieredNew Diorama Theatre
Original languageEnglish


For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy is a 2021 play by Ryan Calais Cameron, inspired by Ntozake Shange's For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf. The play follows six young Black British men—Jet, Midnight, Obsidian, Onyx, Pitch, and Sable—meeting for group therapy.[1][2]

The show was originally commissioned by New Diorama Theatre and co-commissioned by Boundless Theatre.[3]

Production history[edit]

Off-West End (2021-2022)[edit]

The show opened on 12 October 2021 at New Diorama Theatre in London, running until November.[4] Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu directed the original production.[3] The production transferred to the Royal Court for a limited 5 week run from 31 March 2022 to 7 May 2022.[1][5]

West End (2023-2024)[edit]

The show transferred to the West End for a limited engagement at the Apollo Theatre from 25 March 2023 until 7 May.[3] All six original cast members reprised their roles, and Ryan Calais Cameron directed.[3] In November 2023, it was announced that the production would return to the West End for a nine-week limited engagement. The show started performances from 29 February 2024 at the Garrick Theatre.[6]

Cast[edit]

Character Off-West End[2][1] West End West End Remount[7]
2021-2022 2023 2024
Jet Nnabiko Ejimofor Fela Lufadeju
Obsidian Aruna Jalloh Mohammed Mansaray
Onyx Mark Akintimehin Tobi King Bakare
Midnight Kaine Lawrence Posi Morakinyo
Pitch Emmanuel Akwafo Shakeel Haakim
Sable Darragh Hand Albert Magashi


Awards[edit]

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2022 Stage Debut Awards[3] Best Performer in a Play Mark Akintimehin, Emmanuel Akwafo, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh, and Kaine Lawrence Won
2023 Laurence Olivier Awards[8] Best New Play Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Mark Akintimehin, Emmanuel Akwafo, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh, and Kaine Lawrence Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy". Royal Court. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  2. ^ a b Sierz, Aleks (2022-04-26). "'For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy' at Royal Court". The Theatre Times. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  3. ^ a b c d e Hall, Margaret (19 January 2023). "Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy to Play West End". Playbill. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  4. ^ "For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy". Boundless Theatre. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  5. ^ Wood, Alex (28 January 2022). "For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy to transfer to the Royal Court". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  6. ^ Hall, Margaret (November 22, 2023). "Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy to Return to West End".
  7. ^ "For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy - Garrick Theatre". Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  8. ^ "Olivier Awards 2023". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
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