Posted: 4/3/23 at 3:13pm
Does anyone know the details of the Black Superhero cancelled performances? The Royal Court's silence and erasure of the show from its digital & social marketing, of late, has been extremely atypical and a marked departure from standard industry practice, where (even if transparency isn't an option) a canned line is always to hand to explain away speculation or indignant complaints. Despite dates being pulled from sale weeks in advance, customers were notified of performance cancellations 2 hours before the performance starts, EVERY night for a period of a fortnight. No explanation was issued.
Now, the playwright Danny Lee Wynter, who was also the show's lead, has withdrawn from the cast, citing "personal issues". A source, strangely from fintech but whose angel funds have led to the theatre's redevelopment with investor shares in select commissions and own-pros, shared with me that there'd been tension about the show opening post-previews and talk of continuing development into its public run. Allegedly there had been issues between an unnamed party and the Court and this, in part, prompted Wynter's decision to part following an obligated 2 week notice and the appointment of a replacement. This apparently had not been a consequence of delays, but rather necessitated (and raised) early on and the theatre was unable to resolve the situation between themselves and the creatives. The Court had held the announcement back until today but apparently today is not the first it's been heard of, with word travelling from the creatives.
It's...a lot from the Royal Court. And has landed remarkably quietly amidst Oliviers and For The Black Boys' incredibly successful transfer. And it's very out of character, for them at least. WHAT ON EARTH could have happened?
