Mary Reid

It's a real privilege to see a workshop version of a new drama. MeWe, the local youth theatre company that brought us 'And then they came for me', has been developing their own contribution to the debate around the abolition of the slave trade.

'Equiano's Cup' looks at the impact of slavery on young people today, by examining the breakup of family and the cycle of behavioural patterns that can underpin it. At the core of the play is a reading of the chilling speech by Willie Lynch supposedly written in 1712. (Incidently, the authenticity of the speech has been questioned, but the contents have the mark of veracity)

I have outlined a number of differences among the slaves; and I take these differences and make them bigger. I use fear, distrust, and envy for control purposes. These methods have worked on my modest plantation in the West Indies and it will work throughout the South. Take this simple little list of differences, and think about them. On top of my list is "Age", the second is "Color" or shade, there is intelligence, size, sex, size of plantations, status on plantation, attitude of owners, whether the slaves live in the valley, on a hill, East, West, North, South, have fine hair or coarse hair, or is tall or short. Now that you have a list of differences, I shall give you an outline of action- but before that I shall assure you that distrust is stronger than adulation; respect or admiration.

The play will probably be performed during Black History Month in October - I look forward to seeing the finished version.