Eh Up, Me Old Flowers!

Even for those of us that remember him, the career of Charlie Williams really does warrant flagging up. Leaving school at 14, working the mines, becoming a successful professional footballer (one of only 2 black men in the league at the time), singer and finally comedian and genuine TV star. But whilst Charlie broke many boundaries and opened the path for those that followed him, this was not the path he chose, he just wanted to be allowed to work, to do what he did best and have a good life for him and his family. Looked at with more modern eyes, he pandered to, even fanned the flames of, racial stereotypes which made his memory awkward in many areas. By exploring his life through a number of cleverly choreographed vignettes, this play asks us to look back and judge him by his times and intentions, rather than our modern standards. Whilst not always dramatically successful, the play nonetheless challenges us to look at our own views and reminds those of us (of an age!) just how important his appearance on our TVs really was.