Lynn Nottage, the Brooklyn-born playwright, may not be as busy as she was last year, but she currently has two shows running in London. The acclaimed playwright, who previously had three premieres in New York, is now focused on her latest plays, Mlima’s Tale at the Kiln Theatre and Clyde’s at the Donmar Warehouse.
Clyde’s, which shares similarities with Nottage’s Pulitzer prize-winning drama Sweat, tells the story of former prisoners working at a truckers’ stop-off. One of the main characters is Jason, an ex-con and white supremacist, who also appeared in Sweat. Nottage explores the theme of redemption and the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals trying to rebuild their lives in a society that stigmatizes them.
In Mlima’s Tale, Nottage takes on a different subject matter, highlighting the issue of ivory hunting. The play follows the global journey of ivory smuggling, shedding light on the power dynamics, inequality, and capitalism at the heart of the trade. Nottage was inspired to write the play after a conversation with director Kathryn Bigelow, who is passionate about elephants’ plight.
For Nottage, creating theatre in the aftermath of significant events like #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, and the Covid pandemic is an ongoing process. While the industry is still grappling with the impact of these events, Nottage believes it is crucial to sustain the conversation and address the systemic issues they expose.
Regarding the elitism and high ticket prices in the theatre industry, Nottage emphasizes the need to sustain complexity and promote inclusivity. She appreciates the subsidized sector in the UK, where ticket prices are more accessible compared to the US.
Despite the challenges, Nottage remains a trailblazer in the industry, being the only woman to have won two Pulitzer prizes for drama. She continues to break barriers and pave the way for diverse voices in theatre.
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