For Black Boys by Ryan Calais Cameron - ★★★★★

For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy first took to the stage in October 2021, at the New Diorama. Inspired by Ntozake Shange’s For Coloured Girls (Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf), For Black Boys follows six Black boys as they navigate, discuss and reflect on their experiences.

As the curtain rise, the stage is flooded with soft blue and white lights and we see the boys, led by Nnabiko Ejimofor move around the stage with a mesmerising grace and strength. And, as the play unfolds movement (expertly directed by Theophilus O. Bailey) is used as physically expression of many of the unspoken emotions.

For Black Boys is a gorgeous and considered exploration of the experiences of Black men. Through each character, and persona that the boys adopt we see not only the similarities in their experiences and opinions, but also the differences. We watch as they discuss and challenge one another views on education, the n-word, love, sex and colourism, and it’s refreshing to see. While in the real world we know that there’s a range to the experiences and opinions of Black men, often in the media and on stage this is taken away.

For us, the beauty in For Black Boys lies in the themes that Calais Cameron is able to explore through each character, and the nuance with which this is done.

Through Onyx (Mark Akintimehin) our self declared ‘bad man’, we see a boy who’s experiences at home with an abusive father have led to the hardening of his heart to love and the world. Through Pitch (Emmanuel Akwafo), we see a boy who’s interests and hobbies meant that he was never considered Black ‘enough’. Through Jet (Nnabiko Ejimofor) we see a man who feels he has to repress his homosexuality, through fear of losing his friends, family and community. And, through Obsidian (Aruna Jalloh) Cameron poignantly reminds us that boys that do not value their own life, will find it easier to take another.

Even through these difficult topics the boys bring an incredible light back to the show. They charm us with their chat up lines, serenade us Boys II Men style and invite us into their world of wit, banter and of course girls. The atmosphere in the audience is a reflection of their energy, as we laugh and laugh again at each others laughs, and share collective ‘awwwws’ as we hear about Pitch’s dating woes.

Having watched For Black Boys during in its initial run, it’s such a pleasure to see how the play has developed. We really see the show come together as a complete body of work. The stories deepen, the characters have developed and the incorporation of more movement adds another beautiful layer to the show.

There is an incredible joy in For Black Boys, there’s a hope and perhaps most importantly a beautiful brotherhood. For Black Boys explores the honest realities of being a Black man without importantly losing the joy.

P.s, can I just say, when the audience seamlessly and instinctively respond to ‘everybody blow your trumpet’ you know you’re in the right place.

Photo Credit: Ali Wright