The Colored Museum
The Colored Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
Image: © www.evewrightstudio.com.
Art Direction: Evewright, Photography: Lyndon Douglas.
About the Production
Passionate and personal, The Colored Museum simultaneously celebrates, satirises and subverts the African-American legacy.
The Colored Museum is a thought-provoking, satirical show that has delighted and discomforted audiences since it was written by George C. Wolfe in America in 1986.
Taking place in a cultural museum, the 11 living 'exhibits' explore African-American identity in an exhibition of stereotypes.
Through characters like the pert and ever-smiling Miss Pat, airline hostess for Celebrity Slaveship, and The Man, a successful businessman who only wants to be Black at the weekend, Wolfe confronts history and clichés with gutsy humour. By retiring these 11 stereotypical characters and attitudes to a museum, he makes room for the future; for new stories and ideas.
Provocative and seriously funny, The Colored Museum will stir your emotions and leave you in stitches.
"Uncompromising wit...fearless humour....high sophistication."
New York Times
Set designer: Jonathan Fensom
Light designer: Jason Taylor
Sound designer: Joseph Young
Musical director: Dominique LeGendre
Terry Doe
Akiya Henry
Gbemisola Ikumelo
Alana Maria
Marc Forde (musician)
Dr. Robert Beckford
Black Myth Versus History
Saturday 15th October, 3pm
£8 (£4)
Documentary film maker, educator and academic theologian, Dr. Robert Beckford, leads a panel that includes Bonnie Greer to discuss two and a half decades of Black British identity. The talk is preceded by a performance of The Colored Museum. Written twenty five years ago, the play poses the question that Dr. Beckford and the panel discuss: 'How do you decide which aspect of your experience and identity to retain and which to discard?'.
Exploring Black Culture at the V&A
17th & 19th October, 3pm
FREE
Related special events:
People Get Ready
The Protest Years 1970-2000
Friday 21 October, 6.30pm - 10pm
£5 (no concession)
Explore subversion and style through the work of Black British artists. View protest posters and create your own, watch documentary film screenings about resistance, engage in debate with key creatives and immerse yourself as guest DJs play anthems of your choice from this period of progress towards equal rights.
Spotlight on Africa and The Diaspora
African Collections Revealed
Saturday 19 November, 11.30am - 5pm
Throughout the Museum
FREE
Discover African culture at the V&A. Use our new Africa-themed visitor guide to learn more about the stories, secrets and symbolism behind the Museum's objects. Join family workshops, design your own virtual gallery, engage in tiny discussion sessions with experts and enjoy live music.
Reviews
"From the moment perky flight attendant, Miss Pat, tells us to .fasten your shackles. and insists that there must be "no drumming", it's clear it's going to be a bumpy ride. This fearlessly funny skit on the transatlantic slave trade sets the tone for George C Wolfe's shameless satire that both celebrates and mocks African-American identity and stereotypes."
The Guardian Read the full review ›
"The Colored Museum is definitely at its best when walking this line between light and darkness; drawing laughs while stimulating thought."
So So Gay magazine Read the full review ›
"I was really pleased to see that Talawa were reviving The Colored Museum, and am delighted to be able to report that they do full justice to it."
remotegoat Read the full review ›
"The Colored Museum has such a light touch that it elicits a surge of welcome recognition throughout the entire audience."
Scott Matthewman Read the full review ›
"...the performances from the five strong ensemble are quick-witted and exuberant."
"The production is often riotously funny."
"The audacity of the writing, coupled with the crackling energy of the acting, makes this provocative exhibition well worth a visit."
The Times
"Terry Doe's gold-lamé-clad, finger-clicking gay Miss Roj was a hoot, the sassiest reaction you could possibly have to double discrimination..."
The British Theatre Guide Read the full review ›
Pre-production Photographs
Rehearsal Photographs
Video
Tour Dates
-
London
The Colored Museum
15 - 23 October 2011
£12 (£6), £9 (£5)
The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre Victoria and Albert Museum -
London
Black Myth Versus History
15 October 2011
£8 (£4)
The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre Victoria and Albert Museum
