Black Atlas @ The Maltings, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 31 March 2007, 7.30pm Black Atlas is a new play which tells the story of two slaves, one from America the other from Africa, brought together by fate in Regency Britain. The former, Tom Molineaux, a slave from Louisiana, won his freedom fighting in America. Molineaux came to England and ultimately became the first noted Black Prize Fighter in Britain. In two matches in England in 1810 and 1811, he came close to defeating the English champion Tom Cribb and became well-known in the process. The other slave of the story, William Richmond, ultimately opened both a pub and a boxing academy in London where he taught many individuals to fight. In Black Atlas - as in history – Bill Richmond is seen as Tom Molineaux's Manager. Novel inspiration Black Atlas depicts key historic figures from Britain's Regency period alongside some lively fictional characters, and features an original score by composer Tim Williams. The play has been devised by London Shakespeare Workout (LSW) and the LSW Prison Project, and is performed by professional actors and trained ex-offenders. Black Atlas was inspired by George McDonald Fraser’s novel Black Ajax. The production is in Berwick at The Maltings on Saturday 31 March 2007 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8.50 or £7.50 for concessions. The play is designed to commemorate the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in the British Empire on 25 March 1807. | 
