Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Chicago, 1927. In a recording studio on the city’s South Side, a battle of wills is raging.
Ma Rainey, Mother of the Blues, uses every trick in the book to fight her record producers for control of her music. Hardened by years of ill-treatment and bad deals, she’s determined that ‘Black Bottom’, the song that bears her name, will be recorded her way.
But Levee, the band’s swaggering young trumpet player, plans to catapult the band into the jazz age. His ambition puts them all in danger.
Inspired by the real-life Blues legend and infused with her music, August Wilson’s play speaks powerfully of a struggle for self-determination against overwhelming odds.
Sharon D Clarke plays Ma Rainey.
Lyttelton Theatre, National Details
Bus routes: (Waterloo Road) 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, RV1, X68
Night buses: (Waterloo Road) 139, 176, 188, 243, 341, N1, N68, N76, N171, N343
Nearest rail: Waterloo
Tube lines: Waterloo & City, Bakerloo, Northern, Jubilee
Nearest tube: Waterloo
Directions
from Waterloo :
(10mins) Follow signs for exits to the South Bank. This should lead you to an underground pedestrian passage called ‘Sutton Walk’ that emerges at the South Bank. Turn right and walk along the river Thames until you see the National Theat
Car park: National Theatre, Upper Ground (1min)
In congestion zone?: Yes
Facilities at Lyttelton Theatre, National
Air conditioned
Bar
Disabled toilets
Infrared hearing loop
Toilets
Wheelchair accessible
Lyttelton Theatre, National Location
Please note: The location shown on the map is an approximate location of the theatre. In the majority of cases the theatre will be marked on the map so please make sure you locate the exact location yourself. If the theatre is not shown on the map please make sure you locate the correct road name and take account of the directions.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Lyttelton Theatre, National, London
Running time: 2 hours and 35 minutes
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