Upper Cut

‘Seventy percent of my constituents are white, Karen. I have to be a politician, who “happens” to be black. Not a black man who “happens” to be a politician.’

Karen loves politics. She’s a rising star but on the eve of a general election she risks her career and reputation on a bitter and contentious fight over whether to allow short lists for black Parliamentary candidates.

Deselected by her party, and betrayed by the men she loves, Karen must embark on a relentless road to power and political redemption.

Provocative and raw, Upper Cut unravels the fight for diversity and black representation through today’s coalition politics, the hope and rebirth of New Labour and delves into the troubled heart of a Labour party struggling under the might of Thatcher’s Tory revolution. Upper Cut is inspired by true political events.

THE TIMES “A smart, new, urgent and necessary play about the black Labour movement… worth seeing for the shock value alone”

TIME OUT “The real strength of ‘Upper Cut’ is how, in its own subtle way, it suggests that becoming a politician can and should be something anyone can aspire to.”