I've just taken part in Ignition at the Tristan Bates theatre, and one of the other writers was British Nigerian Gbolahan Obisesan who in the post-show discussion said that he was desperate to write a play, but every theatre wants him to write a 'black play'. Alia Bano has said a similar kind of thing, being a writer who also happens to be a Muslim.
There are many schemes to encourage black and ethnic minority writers into the industry, but if the consequence of taking part is that your plays about black and minority issues are commissioned and produced, and your plays about anything else are sidelined, then as a writer, you are still defined by your race and ethnicity. Which to me, feels exclusive and crass.
What do other people think?
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