Antony & Cleopatra: A Theatre First
1991. A seismic moment in theatre history.
In the wings, a small figure with a powerful presence waits to go on stage.
A flash here and there illuminates the darkness backstage as the lights reflect off her costume.
A deep breath ...
The first Black Cleopatra steps on to the British stage.
Enter Doña Croll in Talawa Theatre Company's historic all Black production of William Shakespeare's Antony & Cleopatra, directed by Yvonne Brewster.
The production, and that casting decision especially, created a seismic shift because from that moment casting Cleopatra as white became questionable. History was made, acknowledged and celebrated.
In a Guardian interview with Dea Birkett, Doña Croll said:
Doña Croll
"White actresses play her as a sexy queen. I play the politics and power. Any woman that runs a country and turns it around is not a bimbo. She is somewhere between Maya Angelou and Tina Turner ... the fable of the white Cleopatra is just another way of bleaching out history, cutting the nose of the Sphinx."
Alastair Macaulay, Financial Times
"Funny, sensual, powerful Cleopatra ... she speaks in liquid phrases, she hold out lines to the light with relish ... and her temper is splendid. She catches the untramelled force that makes Cleopatra"
Time Out
Deeply affecting, touching issues far bigger than petty racism ...
PRINCIPAL CAST:
- Doña Croll (Cleopatra);
- Jeffery Kissoon (Antony);
- Renu Setna (Enobarbus);
- Ben Thomas (Octavius Caesar)
This production played in Liverpool from April - May 1991 before transferring to London where it played at the Bloomsbury Theatre from 16 May - 15 June 1991.
We are the most prolific Black theatre company in the UK. As a charity we rely on the support of many individuals, commercial companies and grant giving organisations to raise the money that we need to create world class theatre, and to support the career progression of diverse theatre makers in the UK.
Talawa is a registered charity. We need to raise £600,000 every year to continue our activity
We re-invest box office income, fundraising or earnings from hiring our space into our work.We are now increasing our focus on developing new writers, directors, stage managers, technical talent, designers, and the creative leaders of tomorrow.