Main content

Yvonne Brewster

Sue Lawley's castaway is theatre director Yvonne Brewster.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the theatre director Yvonne Brewster. She has been a major force in black British theatre for the last 20 years. Born into a wealthy family in Jamaica, Yvonne rebelled against her parents' plans for her - marriage and children - to become a theatrical pioneer. She says she was the first black drama student in Britain - but when she enrolled, her drama school's principal told her that, as a black actress, she would never get work here. She went on to become the first black woman to direct at the National Theatre.

Throughout her career Yvonne has been an outspoken proponent of black theatre. In 1986 she founded the theatre company Talawa, whose name in Jamaican dialect means tough or feisty. Talawa gained attention - and audiences - by putting on productions such as an all-black Importance of Being Earnest.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Many Rivers to Cross by Jimmy Cliff
Book: Primer to learn Italian and tape
Luxury: Olive oil

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 1 Apr 2005 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Raymond Briggs

Next

Lorin Maazel

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Ella Fitzgerald

    Lullaby of Broadway

    • Ella.
    • Verve.

  • Franz Schubert

    Moments Musicaux No. 3 in F minor, D780

    Soloist: Alfred Brendel

    • Alfred Brendel Plays Schubert.
    • Turnabout.

  • Nina Simone

    To Be Young, Gifted and Black

    • To Be Young, Gifted and black.
    • RCA.

  • Acker Bilk

    Stranger On The Shore

    • Images.
    • Knight Records.

  • Christoph Willibald Gluck

    Che farΓ² senza Euridice (What is Life?) (from Orpheus and Euridice)

    Soloist: Kathleen Ferrier Orchestra: Southern Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Kathleen Ferrier: Gluck: Orfeo and Euridice.
    • Decca.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Jimmy Cliff

      Many Rivers to Cross

      • The Best of Jimmy Cliff.
      • Mango.

  • Scott Joplin

    The Entertainer (original piano roll version)

    • The Entertainer.
    • Biograph.

  • Bob Marley

    No Woman No Cry

    • Legend.
    • Tuff Gong.

  • Book Choice

    • Primer to learn Italian and tape

  • Luxury Choice

    • Olive oil

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Yvonne Brewster

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Mar 2005 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 1 Apr 2005 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast