North East actor and writer explores who is missing from our history books
All White Everything But Me, written and performed by Kemi-Bo Jacobs, asks audiences to consider the parts of history left out of textbooks
Who is missing from our history books?
That's the question being asked by Alphabetti Theatre's latest play - being show in Newcastle until the 2nd of July.
All White Everything But Me - written and performed by North East actor and writer Kemi-Bo Jacobs - tells the story of Althea Gibson.
In the 1950's she made history by becoming the first ever black female tennis grandslam winner, overcoming huge racial barriers, winning Wimbledon twice.
Upon retiring from tennis, she then went onto to become a professional golfer and actor in Hollywood.
Kemi-Bo tells us the research for the play was eye-opening:
"I've learnt - as a by-product of learning about her story - is how much of history that we don't know?
"You begin to ask questions about why we don't know these things,
"I suppose in more recent years, I think there's been much more of a global movement,
"In terms of undoing history - re-framing history and looking at things... questioning things a lot more."
As always, all tickets for Alphabetti shows are Pay As You Feel - which means audience members pay at the end of the show, what they think the play is worth - or, importantly what they can afford.
Alphabetti hope this will encourage more people to visit.
Kemi-Bo tells us she also hopes the show will reach out to people who might not have been before;
"Audiences that would never dream of coming, might feel welcome!
"And it is a very welcoming space - it's so inclusive and I love the energy and the intimacy of this venue,
"I hope we're able to attract new audiences, and once they see the show they think they'll come back."
The show is directed by Floriana Dezou - who tells us she hadn't heard of Althea Gibson before she began working on the play.
But now - she tells us - she thinks Alphabetti is the perfect venue to put on a show like this;
"It feels really right that a play of this nature that is celebrating unheard voices, would be in a building that in itself has also came up against adversity, and has managed to create a space for itself, for people, for artists - artists that might not have an opportunity to perform or create work in some of the larger venues.
"So it feels really right that this venue is able to hold space for the story, for Althea Gibson's life to be portrayed in quite an intimate way,
"And the space lends itself for quite an intimate and connected performance."
All White Everything But Me runs until the 2nd of July, all tickets are Pay What You Feel.
You can find out more about the show via the Alphabetti Theatre website and Twitter.