Retrograde

Examining a true event in 1950s Hollywood and the reality of iconic film legend Sidney Poitier's journey to stardom, this play is explores identity, resilience, and integrity.

Winner of the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play 2023

Mr Parks, this isn’t just a movie, it’s a whole movement. Whether you like it or not is irrelevant.

The Golden Age of Hollywood. Behind closed doors, aspiring actor Sidney Poitier is offered a lucrative contract that could make him a superstar. But what is he willing to sacrifice?

From the writer of the award-winning, smash hit For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, Ryan Calais Cameron’s explosive play Retrograde explores identity, resilience and integrity as it examines a true event in 1950s Hollywood and the reality of a Black actor’s journey to stardom. This world premiere explores a moment in a career which paved ways and changed perceptions, cementing the legacy of a Hollywood icon. Retrograde asks the question: how much have we really evolved?

This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at London's Kiln Theatre, in April 2023.