For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy (Theatre Review)

The 18 year old was not at all keen to accompany me to the theatre** last Friday. After years of being dragged around London events as part of their “immersive cultural education”, these days my sons are more likely to dig their heels in if I mention any outing that’s slightly arts-related. ‘That sounds long, bro,’ Ezra moaned while I was giving him my spiel about how I really really wanted him to come with me to see For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy. ‘Why not take Jed. He’s a Black boy.’ Eye roll.

I reminded him that Jed has come with me to several theatre shows recently while Ezra always finds some excuse. Also, the age guidance for this play is 15+ and while the youngster has just come of age, I felt that Ezra would get more from this play as a young Black male who’s reached adulthood. 

‘Let it be your Mother’s Day gift to me,’ I pleaded, laying on the emotional blackmail until he relented (with some major side eye). As it happened, For Black Boys was a gift for both of us, a gift that will keep on giving because it’s one of the most powerful plays either of us has seen.

The production notes describe the setup as a group therapy session for young Black men, except that doesn’t quite do it justice. This show is therapeutic but it’s also hilarious, full of schoolboy pranks and endless banter. The action centres on 6 men, Onyx, Pitch, Jet, Sable, Obsidian and Midnight. These are archetypal Black male characters — e.g. streetwise youth, uni student, playboy, nerd — who get to reveal themselves layer by layer, so that we see beneath the posturing and the stereotyping.

At times, the actors switch roles, most movingly when the street kid becomes a Nigerian dad who’s coping with prostate cancer. For all the snappy dialogue and joking around, this play is built on serious themes such as the high rates of Black men dying not just from cancer but from silence. The abuse that some mistake for love. The struggle to be seen in an environment where nobody can appreciate you. Daily clashes with police and the devastating toll of knife crime on young Black boys.

These are issues I’ve written about in my books Bringing Up Race and most recently in Raising Boys Who Do Better: A Hopeful Guide for a New Generation. In fact, throughout the show I kept marvelling at how much watching For Black Boys was like seeing my chapter on ‘Raising Black Boys’ in 3D, with surround sound music and joy, brotherhood and humanity.

Because it’s the humanity that pulses throughout this production that is so deeply affecting. For Black Boys is a re-humanising work for Black masculinity, something many of us have been waiting to see for far too long. To see Black boys simply being human.

Blending monologues, poetry, slang, hip hop, ballet and old school tunes, For Black Boys bounces with energy and motion from start to finish. There is not one dull moment. Apart from the quality of Ryan Calais Cameron’s writing and direction, what really blew me away were the performances: it’s an impressive cast of triple threat performers who can all sing, dance and act their kreps off. Shout outs to Tobi King Bakare, Shakeel Haakim, Fela Lufadeju, Albert Magashi, Mohammed Mansaray and Posi Morakinyo.

The title and concept are inspired by one of my favourite plays, Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf. It was incredibly moving to watch Calais Cameron’s spin on this from a Black British male perspective and especially to be sitting beside my eldest son as he became engrossed in the unfolding drama. I was probably about his age when I discovered Shange’s play and I hope For Black Boys is as seminal a work for Ezra as For Colored Girls was for me.

This is the fourth outing for the production which sells out each time and I hope they bring it back after this run. At the end, the audience was on its feet, roaring, although some sat in their chairs, emotionally knocked out by the devastating final scenes. The announcer informs that you have 15 minutes to collect yourself before you need to leave the theatre. A really thoughtful touch.

‘What did you think?’ I asked Ezra afterwards, my eyes still blurry with tears.

‘It was great. I can see why you wanted me to come. I think Jed would have enjoyed it too but yeah, it was better for me. I’m really glad you made me see this. Thank you Mum.’

Thank you Ryan Calais Cameron. This show is a gift for Black boys and their mothers but also for people of all backgrounds, ages and genders who are ready to be entertained, transported, enlightened and, ultimately, transformed by 6 beautiful men and one unforgettable night of theatre. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy is playing at Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0HH (Leicester Square tube). Recommended for ages 15+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (Thu & Sat); from £15 (until May 4)

**press review