Object Lesson in Racism

“There isn’t a Nought alive who hasn’t had to compromise.”

Solicitor

 

Corinne Brown as Sephy and cast (Photo: Manuel Harlan)

Malorie Blackman’s 2001 novel Noughts and Crosses which reverses the racial power balance in a country called Albion, was adapted for stage by Dominic Cooke in 2007.  The Crosses are superior black people in political power with privilege and wealth.  The Noughts are the lower class, white, poor, employed in low paid jobs with little or no access to education and subject to capital punishment.  The novel was written for adolescents but even for the younger age group it feels too broad brush and simplistic and takes no account of mixed race. 

Noughts and Crosses has its own Romeo and Juliet story where an unlikely friendship develops between Persephone (Corinna Brown) a Cross and Callum (Noah Valentine) a Nought. Callum met Seph when his mother M4ggie (Kate Kordel) worked for Seph’s family. Callum’s sister Lynette (Chanel Waddock) has been left with severe mental health problems and is transracial after being attacked and beaten up by a group of Crosses while she was with a Cross boyfriend.

Callum’s brother Jude (Alec Boaden) and his father Ryan (Richard Riddell) are both attracted to a Nought political organisation called Liberation Militia which is branded as a terrorist organisation by the Cross government with the death penalty for terrorism. 

Noah Valentine as Callum and Corrine Brown as Seph (Photo: Manuel Harlan)

The writing is episodic and anger is demonstrated by chairs being overturned and shouting.  The set is almost brutalist with the feel of a concentration camp on two levels with staircases but really nothing to indicate the luxury of Cross living, as opposed to the conditions for the Noughts, other than costume. 

The production which is currently thrilling teenagers is Stranger Things and in terms of sophistication Noughts and Crosses does not bear comparison well.  The main problem is believability of Callum’s actions after a letter goes astray.  I suppose the upside of this many themed novel is the opportunity to discuss many topics, racism, authoritarianism, class, suicide, alcoholism and the legal system but it does make for a rather clunky production. 

Cast (Photo: Manuel Harlan)

Production Notes

Noughts and Crosses

Written by Malorie Blackman

Adapted for the stage by Dominic Cooke

Directed by Tinuke Craig

Cast

Noah Valentine

Corinne Brown

Eddie Elliott,

Habib Nasib Nader

Helena Pipe

Kate Kordel

Michael Cusick

Richard Riddell

Wela Mbusi

Chanel Waddock

Jessica Layde

Amanda Bright

Halle Brown

Yolanda Ovide

Alec Boaden

Elle Davies

Emma Jane Goodwin

Ben Skym

Creatives

Director: Tinuke Craig

Designer: Colin Richmond

Movement Director: Ingrid Mackinnon

Lighting Designer: Joshua Pharo

Fight Director: RC Annie

Composer: DJ Walde

Sound Director: Max Pappenheim

Information

Running Time: Two hours 30 minutes with an interval

Booking to 26th July 2025

Theatre: 

Open Air Theatre

Inner Circle

Regents Park

London NW1 4NU

Box Office: 0333 400 3562

Tube: Baker Street

Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge

at the Open Air Theatre, Regents Park on 9th July 2025

Cast (Photo: Manuel Harlan)