A Word with Two Cast Members

DARREN RAYMOND (24) plays William Richmond, a slave of African origin who ultimately opened both a pub and a boxing academy in London where he taught many individuals, including the noted writer William Hazlitt, to fight.  In Black Atlas - as in history – Bill Richmond is seen as Tom Molineaux’s Manager:  Darren made his West End debut at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2005 and played Othello in Blacking Iago.

“I didn’t think of myself acting and I couldn’t ever imagine me doing this. It has changed my life and the way that I communicate. After an LSW rehearsal it makes you question your life and everything bad evades your mind.  Feeling like that gives you a brighter future; one other people can more easily relate to.

I was amazed to have employment immediately after I came out of prison.  Also I was shocked we had the same acclaim on the Blacking Iago tour as we did when we performed it in the prison.  It means so much.  I can’t tell you.  You suddenly realise that you weren’t being patronised.  Suddenly you feel free to actually trust people. …. Being involved with LSW has given me so much confidence.  I love performing; I love doing the workshops in prisons, schools, with my own community members - everywhere.  I want to give something back.  I will never leave it behind.”

FABIAN SPENCER (32) plays Tom Molineaux in Black Atlas, a slave from Lousiana who won his freedom fighting in America.  Tom came to England and ultimately become the first noted Black Prize Fighter:  Fabian has now played many roles and, like Darren, has also made his West End debut.  Fabian masterfully essayed the title role in Blacking Iago.

“The production of BLACK ATLAS makes people view offenders in a different light, helping them see that these people are normal, with feelings and hearts, which is a very good thing. We get to see a return on our investment.  As the audience are so close they get to interact much more with the production and to see the expressions up-close and personal.

Drama is something that I have always wanted to be involved in: it stops inhibitions. When you are in prison it can be the only real freedom that you experience and the only true and constructive interaction that you get with people.  It was incredibly important for me. As a result of working with the LSW Prison Project I now have a new outlook on life.  In fact I have a career.”