Michael Abbensetts
Michael Abbensetts | |
---|---|
Born | Michael John Abbensetts 8 June 1938 |
Died | 24 November 2016 London | (aged 78)
Nationality | British |
Occupation | Playwright |
Notable work | Sweet Talk Empire Road |
Children | 1 daughter |
Michael John Abbensetts (8 June 1938 – 24 November 2016)[1][2] was a Guyana-born British writer who settled in England in the 1960s. He had been described as "the best Black playwright to emerge from his generation,[3][4] and as having given "Caribbeans a real voice in Britain".[5][6] He was the first black British playwright commissioned to write a television drama series, Empire Road, which the BBC aired from 1978 to 1979.[1]
Early years
Born in
Writing career
Although he began his writing career with short stories, Abbensetts had been attracted to playwriting after seeing a performance of
Apart from plays, Abbensetts was a screenwriter for
Abbensetts won the 2004 Alfred Fagon Award for The Good Doctor's Son.[23]
Teaching and fellowships
In 1983–84, Abbensetts was Visiting Professor of Drama at
Later years and personal life
With Abbensetts' health declining in his latter years as a result of
Abbensetts died aged 78 on 24 November 2016, survived by his daughter, Justine, from his relationship with Anne Stewart, and by two grandchildren, Sean and Danielle, as well as a sister Elizabeth. His first wife Connie, a lawyer, had died of cancer towards the end of the 1980s, and in 2005 he was married to Liz Bluett, although they later separated.[1]
Recognition and legacy
A portrait of Michael Abbensetts by Horace Ové is in the Photographs Collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London.[26]
A property that Abbensetts bought in 1990 in Kilburn, where he lived for 16 years and wrote the series Little Napoleons for Channel 4, was chosen as the location for a Nubian Jak Community Trust blue plaque honouring him.[27]
Selected works
Stage plays
- Sweet Talk (two acts), produced at the Theatre at New End, 1973.
- Alterations, produced at the New End Theatre, 1978.
- Samba (two acts), produced at the Tricycle Theatre, 1980.
- In the Mood (two acts), produced at the Hampstead Theatre, 1981.
- The Outlaw, produced at the Arts Theatre, 1983.
- El Dorado, produced at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, 1984.
- The Lion, produced at the Cochrane Theatre, 1993.
Television plays
- The Museum Attendant, BBC2, 1973
- Inner City Blues, 1974;
- Crime and Passion, 1975;
- Roadrunner, 1977;
- Black Christmas, BBC, 1977.
- Empire Road, series, BBC, 1978–79.
- Easy Money, BBC2 Playhouse, 1982.
- Big George Is Dead, Channel 4, 1987.
- Little Napoleons, mini-series, Channel 4, 1994.
Radio plays
- Sweet Talk, BBC Radio, 1974.
- Home Again, BBC Radio, 1975.
- The Sunny Side of the Street, BBC Radio, 1977.
- Brothers of the Sword, BBC Radio, 1978.
- Alterations, BBC World Service, 1980.
- The Fast Lane, Capital Radio, 1980.
- The Dark Horse, BBC Radio, 1981.
Bibliography
- Sweet Talk, London: Methuen, 1974.
- Empire Road (novelisation of TV series), London: Grenada, 1979.
- Four Plays (Sweet Talk; Alterations; In the Mood; El Dorado), London: ISBN 9781840021790
References
- ^ a b c Michael Coveney, "Michael Abbensetts obituary", The Guardian, 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b Michelle Yaa Asantewa, "Michael Abbensetts June 8th 1938 - November 24th 2016: The Play Must Go On", Way Wive Wordz, 25 November 2016.
- ^ "Playwright and Dramatist", Guyana Diaspora, 24 April 2006.
- ^ "Abbensetts, Michael, British Writer", Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC).
- ^ a b c Sarita Malik, "Abbensetts, Michael (1938-)", BFI Screenonline.
- ^ Theatre Communications Group Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Michael Abbensetts Biography (1938–)", filmreference.com
- ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ a b Michelle Stoby, "Black British Drama After Empire Road: An interview with Michael Abbensetts", Wasafiri, Issue 35, Spring 2002, pp. 3–8.
- ^ "Michael Abbensetts (1938 – )", Dollee.com
- ^ a b c d Quinn, Michael (14 December 2016). "Obituary: Michael Abbensetts". The Stage. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ Stephen Bourne, "The Black Presence on the London Stage, 1825–1965: Some Key Players and a Timeline". Archived 14 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d "Michael Abbensetts 1938-2016". Royal Literary Fund. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ Stephen Bourne, Black in the British Frame: The Black Experience in British Film and Television, Continuum, 2005, p. 200.
- ^ "Michael Abbensetts", National Theatre, Black Plays Archive.
- ^ "Empire Road (1978–1979) | Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ Wambu, Onyekachi. "Empire Road (1978-79)". Screenonline. British Film Institute. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ Busby, Margaret (November 2016). "2015: The Year of Being Connected, Exhibition-wise". Wasafiri. 31 (4).
- ^ "Big George Is Dead" at IMDb.
- ^ "Little Napoleons" at IMDb.
- ^ "Michael Abbensetts 1938-2016". What Was Pebble Mill?. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "Doctors S3.E32 | Vanessa's World". IMDb. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "2004 Award | The Good Doctor's Son by Michael Abbensetts wins the Award", Alfred Fagon Award.
- ^ Max Walters, "Cricklewood pensioner missing after visiting Northwick Park Hospital", Brent and Kilburn Times, 4 July 2012.
- ^ John Gulliver, "Playwright who gave black actors a dramatic entrance" Archived 11 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Camden New Journal, 13 December 2012.
- ^ "Michael Abbensetts" by Horace Ové, National Portrait Gallery.
- ^ Mohdin, Aamna (26 July 2023). "Groundbreaking black British playwright to be honoured with blue plaque". The Guardian.
- Leavy, Suzan. "Abbensetts an Example". Television Today (London, England), 19 May 1994.
- Walters, Margaret. "Taking Race for Granted". New Society (London, England), 16 November 1978.