Colin Chambers was Kingston University’s first Professor of Drama. Formerly a journalist and theatre critic, he was Literary Manager of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1981 to 1997. His books include The Story of Unity Theatre (1989), the award-winning biography Peggy: The Life of Margaret Ramsay, Play Agent (1997), The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre (editor, 2002), Inside the Royal Shakespeare Company (2004) and Here We Stand (2006).

"It is one of the great strengths and, importantly, pleasures of this book, that it moves well beyond a mere chronicling of activities and individuals into a sensitive description of battles fought and prejudices encountered." - Martin Banham, African Theatre'An important and long overdue book on the huge contribution that Black and Asian artists have made and continue to make to Britain’s theatrical landscape.’ - Meera Syal

• 1. Before Aldridge 2. Aldridge and the age of minstrelsy 3. From Aldridge to World War I 4. From World War I to World War II 5. Post war to the end of the 1960s 6. Black Theatre, 1970-1980 7. Asian diasporic theatre from the 1970s 8. 1980s and beyond

Colin Chambers was Kingston University’s first Professor of Drama. Formerly a journalist and theatre critic, he was Literary Manager of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1981 to 1997. His books include The Story of Unity Theatre (1989), the award-winning biography Peggy: The Life of Margaret Ramsay, Play Agent (1997), The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre (editor, 2002), Inside the Royal Shakespeare Company (2004) and Here We Stand (2006).

"It is one of the great strengths and, importantly, pleasures of this book, that it moves well beyond a mere chronicling of activities and individuals into a sensitive description of battles fought and prejudices encountered." - Martin Banham, African Theatre'An important and long overdue book on the huge contribution that Black and Asian artists have made and continue to make to Britain’s theatrical landscape.’ - Meera Syal

• 1. Before Aldridge 2. Aldridge and the age of minstrelsy 3. From Aldridge to World War I 4. From World War I to World War II 5. Post war to the end of the 1960s 6. Black Theatre, 1970-1980 7. Asian diasporic theatre from the 1970s 8. 1980s and beyond

Colin Chambers was Kingston University’s first Professor of Drama. Formerly a journalist and theatre critic, he was Literary Manager of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1981 to 1997. His books include The Story of Unity Theatre (1989), the award-winning biography Peggy: The Life of Margaret Ramsay, Play Agent (1997), The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre (editor, 2002), Inside the Royal Shakespeare Company (2004) and Here We Stand (2006).

"It is one of the great strengths and, importantly, pleasures of this book, that it moves well beyond a mere chronicling of activities and individuals into a sensitive description of battles fought and prejudices encountered." - Martin Banham, African Theatre'An important and long overdue book on the huge contribution that Black and Asian artists have made and continue to make to Britain’s theatrical landscape.’ - Meera Syal

• 1. Before Aldridge 2. Aldridge and the age of minstrelsy 3. From Aldridge to World War I 4. From World War I to World War II 5. Post war to the end of the 1960s 6. Black Theatre, 1970-1980 7. Asian diasporic theatre from the 1970s 8. 1980s and beyond