Bright Young Tings exhibition, National Theatre

This spring, the National Theatre will open its doors for a show with a difference.

Known for hosting some of the most groundbreaking theatre performances in London, from the 23^rd of February the National Theatre will pay homage to its rich cultural history with Bright Young Tings, an exhibition of photographs from the Archive’s of the work of Michael Mayhew.

Mayhew’s collection is a rare snapshot of the work developed by black theatre practitioners between 1979 and 1982. At a time when black-led art and theatre was exploding onto the cultural scene in London, Mayhew’s photography gives poignant insight into the foundations of black theatre laid down by generations before.

Also featuring in the Bright Young Tings exhibition is Cherelle Sappleton, a young British–Caribbean visual artist whose work focuses on photography, moving image and collage. Commissioned specially by the National Theatre to add depth to the exhibition, Sappleton was inspired by Mayhew’s work to pause and consider the politics of ‘making’ and the spaces in which creative work can be made. In response to the archive photography, she says, “There is a sacredness in what is held in this archive. But archives are not complete, and if they are doing their jobs well, they will constantly transform.

Running alongside the exhibition is a program of talks and events further exploring the emergence of black theatre and grassroots activism in the 70’s and 80’s.