Mary Reid

MeWe is a local youth theatre group that I have written glowingly about before. Their latest production - developed by the group themselves - is based on the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano, a slave who bought his freedom and then played a key role in London in the movement to abolish slavery.

Back in March I was invited to a workshop performance of this play, and since then the cast have gone deeper into the history. One thing I particularly liked is that they now present only simple but telling hints of the legacy of slavery today. The very last moment of the play is a short but moving encounter between a young man in modern clothes and Equiano, who just nod and smile knowingly at each other.

This was good ensemble playing with some very strong performances, but I do have mention Marlon McDonald in the lead role (centre in photo) - this young man will go far.