Originally published by L.S. Media. March 10th 2012.

L.S. Media *****

Inua Ellams’ Black T-Shirt Collection is one of those rare moments of theatre where one person carries an entire production by himself and the result is nothing short of absolutely stunning.

As part of the Unity Theatre’s season of plays with Fuelfest, Inua Ellam’s play took the audience into realm of private enterprise and the shocking aftermath when a company that started with so many good intentions unravels and the people behind it see the world for its true, cruel, profit-making and inhumane ways.

The stage was stark, as if to drive the message home further, the only props were the screen behind Inua, which carried the occasional graphic drawing and which highlighted certain aspects of the play with incredible bleakness plus a selection of blocks and a box of which the T-Shirts were carried about in. In this, it soon became apparent that the focus of the play was on the dramatic monologue delivered with incredible passion and intensity by the young actor.

Very rarely is there a play performed where it’s possible to shut your eyes and let the person speak to your inner self, to let the words flow over you and be immersed in the words. Such was the ability, the generous and direct speech of Inua that the very vivid nature of the story telling captured every delightful and damning moment.

Due to the content of the play, there may have been a few people that were put off attending the show, however it really was their loss and it can only be hoped that they get to one of the other shows as this play goes on tour round the country over the next couple of months.

Black T-Shirt Collection is the story of black and Muslim Britain that never gets told and Inua deserves not just praise for his quality of writing but also for the incredible way he presented his work.

Excellent, thought-provoking theatre, which crossed the visual and aural divide with dramatic ease.

Ian D. Hall