Obama play comes to the Old Vic

James Hassam on Looking for Obama

A brand new play, which aims to "put challenging race issues under the spotlight" is coming to Bristol.

Looking for Obama asks whether aspiration and achievement are possible in black Britain, now America's first black president has taken office.

Once the play has finished its run at Bristol's Old Vic, it will then tour in schools across the city.

Organisers say they want to connect the story's message directly with Bristol's youngest generation.

Looking for Obama runs from Wednesday, 28 October until Saturday, 31 October 2009.

Celebrated Bristol poet Miles Chambers, who is one of four writers behind the play, went to the historic inauguration.

He said: "Taking the play to Bristol's local schools provokes young people to ask how President Obama's appointment has impacted on their life.

"Crucially it makes them question what the effect has been and whether they can look to the future with confidence and hope."

One of our key aims is to make theatre accessible to everyone Gillian Taylor

Inspired by the city's deep cultural roots and the writers' personal experience, the play is set on a station platform at Bristol Temple Meads where four people wait for a train, each at a crossroads in their lives.

Funding for the play - by Arts Council England, South West - was awarded to Jenny Davis, a successful Bristol playwright and member of the BBC Writers' Room.

She is joined by celebrated performance poets from the city, Jackie Davis and Miles Chambers.

Renowned rap artist Emmanuel Bridi completes the writing quartet, and brings a gritty urban theme to the script.

'Thought provoking'

The cast includes Junior Saunders, best known as the host of BBC Radio Bristol's 'Teen Talk' and Ujima 98 FM's Sunday Chart Show; BBC actor Allister Bain, Jacqui Dubois from The Lion King and Victor Romero Evans fresh from The Harder They Come.

Arts Council spokesperson Gillian Taylor said: 'We were delighted to fund this production.

"One of our key aims is to make theatre accessible to everyone, and these thought provoking performances promise to give a voice to important social issues.

"The work in local schools will be engaging and will introduce a new audience to the theatre."