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Edgar Nkosi White

1947-2024

Born: Montserrat, 1947

Biography

Edgar Nkosi White was born on the Caribbean island of Montserrat and grew up in Harlem, New York from 1952. He studied at Yale University and New York Theological Seminary where he completed his studies in Drama and Theology respectively. In 1965, age 18, White had his first play, “The Mummer’s play,” produced by the Joseph Papp Public Theatre in New York. Its success led the producer to stage White’s next four plays – including The Crucifado. Much of his work was produced by the British Black Co-operative, Temba, Talawa, Umoja and Lumumba theatre companies, showing in venues across the UK. He passed way in 2024 in his home of Montserrat.

Productions

Fun In Lethe; or, The Feast of Misrule

Fun In Lethe; or, The Feast of Misrule

Year: 1970

Trinity: The Long and Cheerful Road to Slavery

Trinity: The Long and Cheerful Road to Slavery

Year: 1982

Staged in: Black Theatre Co-operative; 1979

Cathedral of Chartres, The

Cathedral of Chartres, The

Year: Unknown

Dija

Dija

Year: Unknown

Mummer's Play, The

Mummer's Play, The

Year: 1965

Femmes Noires, Les

Femmes Noires, Les

Year: 1974

Staged in: New York Shakespeare Company

Ode To Charlie Parker

Ode To Charlie Parker

Year: 1973

Ghosts: Live From Galilee The Scottsboro Boys

Ghosts: Live From Galilee The Scottsboro Boys

Year: 1993

Offering For Nightworld

Offering For Nightworld

Year: 1973

Tres Cepas

Tres Cepas

Year: 1987

Like Them That Dream

Like Them That Dream

Year: 1983

Count it all Joy

Count it all Joy

Year: Unknown

Little Orfeo's Lay

Little Orfeo's Lay

Year: 1970

Baba and the Tree of Life

Baba and the Tree of Life

Year: 2008

Live From Galilee

Live From Galilee

Year: 1992

Pygmies and the Pyramid, The

Pygmies and the Pyramid, The

Year: 1976

Seigismundo's Tricycle: A Dialogue of Self and Soul

Seigismundo's Tricycle: A Dialogue of Self and Soul

Year: 1969

Marian Anderson:The Lady From Philadelphia

Marian Anderson:The Lady From Philadelphia

Year: 2001

Figures at Chartres, The

Figures at Chartres, The

Year: 1969

Transformations, A Church Ritual

Transformations, A Church Ritual

Year: 1972

Gente, La

Gente, La

Year: 1973

Staged in: New York Shakespeare Festival

Burghers of Calais

Burghers of Calais

Year: 1970

Rihla

Rihla

Year: 2004

Defense, The

Defense, The

Year: 1976

Black

Black

Year: Unknown

Crucificado, The

Crucificado, The

Year: 1972

Rastafarian, The

Rastafarian, The

Year: Unknown

Lament for Rastafari

Lament for Rastafari

Year: 1977

Wonderful Yeare, The

Wonderful Yeare, The

Year: 1971

Staged in: The New York Skakespeare Festival

When Night Comes Day

When Night Comes Day

Year: Unknown

Masada

Masada

Year: 1978

Staged in: Keskidee Arts Centre; 1970

Man and Soul

Man and Soul

Year: 1982

Moon Dance Night, The

Moon Dance Night, The

Year: 1987

Staged in: Talawa Theatre Company; 1986

Nine Night, The

Nine Night, The

Year: 1983

Staged in: Black Theatre Co-operative; 1979

Ritual By Water

Ritual By Water

Year: 1983

Staged in: Lumumba Theatre Group

Redemption Song

Redemption Song

Year: 1984

Staged in: Black Theatre Co-operative; 1979

Ritual

Ritual

Year: 1985

Staged in: Black Theatre Co-operative; 1979

Case of Dr. Kola, The

Case of Dr. Kola, The

Year: 1982

Boot Dance, The

Boot Dance, The

Year: 1984

Staged in: Temba Theatre Company; 1972

Black Women, The

Black Women, The

Year: 1978

Staged in: Keskidee Arts Centre; 1970

That Generation

That Generation

Year: 1982

Publications

The Rising

The Rising

Year: 1988

Publisher: Marion Boyars

Redemption Song and Other Plays: Redemption Song; Boot Dance; Les Femmes Noires

Redemption Song and Other Plays: Redemption Song; Boot Dance; Les Femmes Noires

Year: 1985

Publisher: Marion Boyars

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